Feeding axd Protection op Young Birds. 133 



Another question oF interest in regard to young 

 birds is as to what becomes of them once they 

 have left the nest and taken to the tiekls and 

 hedo^erows to be taught how to find their own 

 Hving. Those of Starhngs flock at once, by one 

 brood joining anotlier, until there is a great noisy 

 crowd that sticks together, more or less, until 

 the folio wiug spring, when it is again broken up 

 into V)reeding pairs and scattered all over the 

 country. 



Double-brooded birds, such as Thrushes, ]?lack- 

 birds, Sparrows, and Robins, gradually allow their 

 first famihes to go their own way as soon 

 as they can provide for themselves, and then 

 turn their thoughts to a fresh start in house- 

 keeping. 



Waterhens rear two or more broods during a 

 season, and it is said that the mcml)Cis of the first 

 family help their father and mother to build their 

 second nest and nurse the vounger generation of 

 children. 



The Long-tailed or IJottle Tit is a bird with 

 very strong family ties, and the father and mother, 

 sisters and brothers, all keep together during the 

 sunnner, autunm, and winter after they are hatched, 

 flying from tree to tree in search of food, and 

 calling to each other until the warm days of spring, 

 when little birds' fancies " lightly turn to thoughts 

 of love,"' and a new season of pairing and nest- 

 building commences. 



