218 



WITir XATUTtE AXD A CAMERA. 



and found that upon an averag-e she broug'ht cater- 

 pillars and Hies four times in five minutes, and on 

 the occasion of each visit spent from ten to fifteen 

 seconds in attcndin,i>' to the sanitary arrang-ements 

 of her little establishment. Most birds are very 



NIGHTINGALE ON NEST. 



]);irticular about Ihls part of tlieir duties, and I have 

 known ;i b*(»l)in refuse to fetch grubs to her }-oung- 

 ones until she had been allowc^l an opportunity 

 of cleansing the edge of her nest. Contrary to 

 j)opular notions, tliis is a perfectly ch'anly operation, 

 as cacli piece of excrement voi(le<l by a young bird 

 is euN'eloped in a thin gelatinous sack, sullicientl}' 



