THE CARE OF YOUNG BIRDS 27 



did so very severely, as if she were saying, " You are 

 far too old to be fed ; it is no use to pretend you cannot 

 catch insects, you are a naughty, lazy, little bird ! " But 

 the lackadaisical air of the young one expressed more 

 plainly than words : " Oh, mother, it tires me to chase 

 insects. They move so fast. I have tried, but have 

 caught so few, and am very hungry." 



For several minutes the young wagtail followed the 

 mother ; then something arrested its attention, so that 

 it tarried behind its parent. The mother moved away, 

 apparently glad to be rid of the troublesome child for a 

 little. Then she suddenly flew off. Presently the 

 young wagtail looked round for its mother, and I was 

 interested to see what would happen when it noticed 

 that she had flown away. My curiosity was soon 

 satisfied. Directly the young bird perceived that the 

 mother had gone, it set itself most philosophically to 

 catch insects, which it did with all the skill of an old 

 bird, turning, twisting, doubling, with the elegance of an 

 experienced wagtail. 



I describe these two little incidents, not as anything 

 wonderful, but as examples of what is continually going 

 on in the world around us. 



The parental instinct is probably developed in some 

 birds more than in others, but I believe that in all cases 

 the affection of a bird mother for her young persists 

 long after they have left the nest, and for some time 

 after they are fully capable of looking after them- 

 selves. 



Birds are born with many instincts, but they have 

 much to learn both before and after they leave the nest. 



