74 



They were naughty too, at times^ as is shown by the picture 

 of the mother trying to brood them. She turned and 

 twisted and poked at them in her endeavors to keep them 

 under her^ but they would insist on sticking their heads out 

 to see what was going on. The one on the right really looks 

 as though he were laughing at her vain attempts to control 

 him. 



The nest^ which was plenty large enough for the eggs 

 and for the little birds in their first stages^ is shown by the 

 pictures of the male feeding them, to be entirely too small 

 to accomodate them as they get larger. We cannot but pity 

 the poor little fellow that is vainly trying to push his way 

 up, but we may rest assured that when it comes his turn to 

 be fed, he will not be forgotten. At no time, while I was 

 watching them, did they feed the little birds upon large 

 insects such as many of the smaller birds frequently do. 

 All food brought seemed to be small winged insects or little 

 caterpillars that they picked up from the ground. 



Fig. 62. A pair uf Bluebirds on t/ic fop of their nesting post. 



