VI 



Preface 



coat of down to keep their little bodies 

 warm. Many of those that are reared in 

 nests, or in hollow trees, are also covered 

 with down, such as the kestrel, sparrow- 

 hawk, and different species of owls. 



Some, such as the chaffinch, skylark, and 

 yellow-hammer, are hatched with tufts of 

 down growing along their upper parts, and a 

 few emerge from the shell without a par- 

 ticle of anything growing upon them. The 

 common sparrow and cormorant are good 

 examples of this bald entry into the world. 



Young birds that run about as soon as 

 they are hatched learn to catch insects 

 directly, whilst those that remain in the nest 

 have to defer this part of their education 

 until a somewhat later period. It is not 

 long delayed, however, for young sparrow- 

 hawks may be observed trying to secure blue- 

 bottle flies that alight on the edge of their 

 nest. Baby skylarks, flycatchers, and the 

 chicks of many other species, endeavour to 

 catch passing insects whilst sitting in the 

 nest anxiously awaiting their parents' return 

 with more food. 



One feature of baby bird life is always 

 very noticeable to the careful observer, it 



