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Mr. George G. Phillips,



FIVE LITTLE WAXWINGS AND HOW

THEY GREW.


By George G. Phillips, Greene, R. I.


[From “ Bird-Lore .”]


Into the lives of all of us come, at times, experiences that

make their mark and linger in our memories while we live.


The story I am about to tell is of just such an experience

that came to me; and, though I can hardly hope to create for others

the pleasure that was mine, I am sure that all true lovers of birds

nd babies who read this will “know and understand.”


One day in the summer of 1912—it was July 15—while

seated at dinner I heard the cry of young birds.


Stepping to my back door, I found on the doorstep two young

and newly fledged Cedar waxwings.


Presently, guided by their cries, I found three more near by.


Now, if it is a notable event to have one baby left on your

doorstep, what an embarrassment of riches was mine, who found

five babies there at once !


“ Where did they come from ? ” was the first question asked.

I never knew, for neither old bird or nest had we ever seen or could

we find. Undoubtedly, they fluttered from a nest high up in the

pine trees, a row of which stands near my house.


Thinking and hoping that the old birds would come to feed

them, I left them on the ground for an hour or two. But no parent

bird ever came, and after a while the mute appeal of those five

gaping bills and yellow throats became too much to bear, and I

realized that something must be done, and done quickly.


“ What do baby waxwings eat ? ” was the burning question.

The books told of the parent bird feeding them by regurgitation.

As that process did not happen to be one of my accomplishments,

I took a chance on ripe raspberries, and was greatly relieved to find

that they would eat them readily. I immediately filled them full,

and from that time it was my daily and almost hourly duty to feed

those baby birds.


The second day, I tried bread and milk. That went even

better than the berries, and was adopted for their regular food;



