214 WITH NATUIiE AND A CAMERA. 



uttermost extent to receive an equal share of the 

 food tlie parent bird liad broiio-ht. 



Directly this was consumed they all subsided, 

 and the old bird attended to the sanitary arrano'e- 

 ments of her household, and then iiow away in 

 searcli of more food. 



Presently the cock came along- with a large 

 worm which he had carefully chopped into several 

 l^ieces ready for impartial distriljution amongst his 

 promising offspring. He, too, seemed to regard 

 cleanliness with a scrupulous eye, and after doing 

 his share of tlie necessary work, he retired to a 

 neighbouring elm tree and piped a few mellow 

 notes. 



When the hen returned again a heavy shower 

 of rain was falling, and after she had distributed 

 her harvest of worms she hopped into the nest, and 

 Imstling about a while with gentle care for the 

 chicks beneath her, settled down with her Avings 

 spread over the sides of her nest to allow the rain 

 drops to run off, and the happiest look of security 

 and contentment about her I ever saw in any bird 

 in my life. Her head, back, wings, and tail were 

 covered with great crystal beads of water, which 

 rolled down and away like quicksilver in obedience 

 to the laws of gravitation directl}' they received 

 the weight of an additional drop of rain. AVe 

 managed, in spite of a very poor light, to make a 

 photograi)h of her in this condition, as shown in 

 the bottom left-hand corner of the combination page 

 of illustrations. 



Wlien the shower was over tlu> cock came along 

 with a fresh sup})ly of food, and the hen imme- 

 diately hopped olf and stood on the edge of the 

 nest and watched him feed the young ones. It 

 was a sweetly pretty picture, and my brother has 



