i86 



Bird -Lore 



with the result that it was nearly choked. He then tried all four in turn, 

 waxing more and more persistent at each failure. Meanwhile the hen carried 

 on a gentle conversation with him, the gist of which was quite obvious to the 

 onlooker. After having patiently watched while each of her babies in turn 

 was left gasping by her mate's well-meant, but misdirected efforts, she gently 

 edged round to where he stood looking helpless and very foolish, holding the 

 rejected food in his bill. She quietly took the mangled head from him, tore 



WATER RAIL REMOVING YOUNG FROM NEST 



it into four bits and gave one to each of her brood in turn. Then the old birds 

 looked at one another, interchanged a few remarks in the intimate language 

 even such harsh-voiced birds as the Shrikes are capable of using during the 

 breeding-season, and, having discussed the right and wrong way of adminis- 

 tering infantile diet, they tlew amicably away together. I could not photograph 

 this episode without disturbing both it and the birds, and I wanted to see 

 the end of the comedy. 



Incidents such as these are full of charm, not only to the bird-lover, but 

 also to the student of animal psychology; and long watching within the hiding- 



