40 THE WOOD-WREN 



returned to their home. But though the wood- 

 wrens had grown so trustful that once they had 

 even shown the watcher how the feathery hning 

 of the nest was partially removed to make room 

 for the growing fledglings, this incident brought 

 back all the old distrust, and before the following 

 evening the young were hidden in the grass some 

 distance from the empty nest. Obedient to 

 their parents, they crouched motionless in their 

 secure retreat — as lately they had been taught 

 to remain in the widened chamber beneath the 

 broom — whenever danger threatened, and the 

 loud chur-r-r of warning, varied by a soft Jieu- 

 whee, heu-whee, of entreaty reached their ears. 

 They skulked, like long-legged mice, in the under- 

 growth, hissing audibly if alarmed, and seldom 

 venturing aloft to the tops of the gorse and broom 

 till, grown strong, and somewhat independent, 

 they caught flies for themselves, and accepted 

 the unselfish attentions of their parents only 

 when a feeling of weariness made them dis- 

 inclined for exertion. When unusually hungry, 

 they made known their wants by low sibilant 

 call-notes that sounded like an indrawn whistle ; 

 and, crouching before the old birds, with a 

 pleading flutter of grey-green wings begged for 

 the tit-bits brought to satisfy their greedy appe- 

 tites. Soon the feathers appeared strong and 

 firm on every part of the body, and young and 



