168 



the occurrences in bird-life that is very rarely witnessed 

 and still less often photographed. The male bird is the one 

 nearest the young; he had just fed the little one beside 

 him and was on the point of leaving when the female ar- 

 rived with a large caterpillar. To our surprise, instead of 

 alighting on the other side of the little birds, as usual, she 



Fig. 145. AN ANTIDOTE FOR HUNGER. 



lit at the side of her mate. In bird language, she instruct- 

 ed him what to do, and the next moment he had hold of one 

 end of the caterpillar, bearing down with all his might; she 

 lifted up on her end until it parted in the center. The two 

 youngsters in the middle , who have anticipation written on 

 every line of their faces, were the recipients of the broken 

 morsel. 



We were also fortunate in being able to reproduce another 

 very interesting performance, shown in the picture entitled 

 "A Long ReacTi". You will notice that the little bird with 



