Feedixg axd Protection of Youxg Birds. 117 



of food, and eveiy feather on her hody as dry, for 

 auo'ht I could see, as before the rain descended. 



A strange thing about a great many birds is 

 that when the male and female are bringing food 

 to their chicks, if they both happen to meet at the 

 nest with a supply, one or both of them will com- 

 mence to quiver their wings, just as if they were 

 expectant fledgelings themselves. 



It is very amusing to watch Rooks feeding their 

 young in the early spring. Xot long ago I had a 

 ])air imder observation for a whole day, and some- 

 times the fun was as good as a pantomime. The 

 old mother Rook sat tight upon the nest until her 

 Imsband came along with a supply of food, when 

 she stood up on the edge and watched him feed 

 their chicks, caw-cawins^, shaking her wings, and 

 asking in the plainest of bird language for a tit-bit. 

 Her husband hopped sedately away a few feet, and 

 she followed him in (piivering expectation, all the 

 time saying the very sweetest things about him 

 until he gave her a nice piece which he had saved 

 at the l)a<-k of his conunodious mouth. Then they 

 sat still for a few seconds, looking very grave and 

 thoughtful, the female generally breaking the reverie 

 by fondling round her companion's bill and utter- 

 ing a long-draAvn Caaw, which seemed to say, "Did 

 you tind grubs very hard to get this morning, dear ? " 

 and he ansAvered with a short, sharp Ka, which 

 doubtless meant " Yes." for the weather was dry 

 and cold. 



