Illustrations xiii 



FACING 

 PAGE 



Young Crows just after hatching 72 



Nest full of young Crows, about half-grown ... 72 



Jack Crow's perch in the apple tree 72 



"Granny" — a portrait of a half-grown Barn Owl . . 81 



Full-grown young Barn Owls at the age of eight weeks . 85 



Nest and eggs of the Barn Owl 85 



Downy young Barn Owls about three weeks old . . 85 



A study in sentiment 88 



Barn Owl in full flight 88 



Half-grown Barn Owls, about six weeks old ... 88 



Young Barn Owl in fighting attitude 88 



Wide awake and on the tip-toe of expectancy ... 92 



Mother Wren at the nest hole 96 



A young Vigors Wren just after leaving nest in the dead alder 96 



Feeding young Wrens 9^ 



The parents lit wherever they found the children . .105 



Bush-tit feeding young on top of cap 105 



Awaiting their turns — rather impatiently .... 105 



Bush-tit at door of long hanging nest 108 



Young Bush-tits beside long pendent nest .... 108 



Male Bush-tit with green cutworm for young . . . 108 



Jimmy 1 16 



Jimmy eating from the hand of his mistress . . .116 

 Pair of young Shrikes or Butcher-birds . . . .116 



He often perched in the pear tree 1 16 



