A LITTLE NURSERY 59 



tion. I believe that both birds sit alternately. When 

 the young hatch out they are of course ugly, large- 

 mouthed creatures, innocent of a single feather. At 

 first, they are very weak, and seem to have scarcely 

 strength enough to raise their heads to receive the 

 insects brought by their parents. 



Their growth is, however, exceedingly rapid. When 

 three days old they are fully twice the size they were 

 when first hatched. They keep their fond parents very 

 busy seeking food for them. This consists entirely of 

 minute insects. Many of these are picked off the trunks 

 and branches of trees, some are taken off the ground, 

 while others are caught on the wing. Elegance marks 

 every movement of the fantail flycatcher. It runs 

 swiftly among the branches, and every now and again 

 makes a pretty bow and spreads its tail ; then suddenly 

 it will make a little sally in the air, and return, with 

 easy sweep, to the place whence it started. In grace 

 of movement a fantail flycatcher is nearly equal to a 

 wagtail. 



While seeking for food the parents never go far from 

 the nest. They keep a most jealous guard over this 

 precious structure, and most necessary is it that they 

 should do so, for crows are exceedingly fond of eating 

 young birds, and are always on the look out for a nest ; 

 and when they discover it, woe betide the occupants ! 

 •' Eha " thus describes this phase of the corvine charac- 

 ter, and that which he says is but too true : " What 

 I cannot forgive is the constant and ruthless massacre 

 of innocents that goes on where crows are allowed 

 to have their own way. They watch every little bird to 



