HOW YOUNG BIRDS GET FED. 



ONE afternoon in July I watched six little Barn 

 Swallows sitting on the roof of a barn. They 

 had evidently left their nest only a few days before, 

 but their wings were already strong enough to carry 

 them back to the roof if they fluttered off. 



Soon the father approached, and was greeted by 

 six gaping mouths. The little bird sitting nearest 

 him got the mouthful, and an instant later got another 

 from the mother. Six times in succession he was fed, 

 neither parent regarding the five other yellow throats. 



This seemed unfair, and foolish as well. I thouQ-ht 

 little birds must be starved one day and fed too full 

 the next. I waited a few moments and the mystery 

 was solved. The little fellow wiio had been getting 

 so much soon had all he wanted. The next time the 

 parents came his mouth w^as shut, and one of the other 

 five got the mouthful. 



When a cat or a dog has had enough, he stops eat- 

 ing. It must be so with little birds ; when one has 

 had enough, he shuts his mouth and eyes and dozes 

 while his brothers and sisters get their meal. I fear, 

 though, that when there are six mouths to fill, the 

 last is hardly closed before the first opens again. 



