AND OTHER BIHDS l^l 



attcni])ted. to inii)art to the eggs his extra 

 wainith, she reinaiuecl ph\cid. Even when^ 

 head to tail, he sat bodily on toj) of hei', she 

 endnred hiin unmoved and still serene. 



After the birth of the tiist chick had happened 

 and the shell had been removed, the male at 

 once busied himself in obtaining supplies. 

 Possibly within live mimites of birth, probably 

 within seven, and certainly under ten minutes, 

 the cock bird had brought, and the chick received, 

 a green caterpillar. Whilst it was being given, 

 I noticed that the hen only momentarily moved 

 aside, remaining on the nest's I'im rcnuly at once 

 to re-seat herself. The male iuuuediately tlew 

 off for further su])plies, and brought back this 

 time a small brownish grub. This, either because 

 the hen bird feared he was over-fecnling the new 

 hatched chick, or more probably because this 

 offering was unsuitable to its baby stomach, — 

 mince pie, say, instead of ]\[ellins' food for 

 infants, — the hen bird refused to ]3ass. She sat 

 firm on the nest, and quite a little fencing match 

 occurred l^etween the rival bills of the parents, 

 he resolved to give it, she equally resolved that 

 it should not be given. At length he was over- 

 borne, and desisted. The grub was taken from 

 him ; and, as if to end all unkindness and ta 

 finish the pother, swallowed by the hen herself. 

 Quite a wrong impression WT)uld be given of the 

 commbial disputation, if it should be thought that 

 any snatching or pulling about of the grub took 

 place. To me, the cock seemed rather to yield 

 because he was on reflection respecting the judg- 

 ment of his partner. During the little sparring^ 

 match the birds were perfectly friendly. I feel 

 sure the hen knew it was but too great anxiety 



