THE FLICKER 55 



beak down the gaping and screaming throat of the nesthng 

 and began a jerking and riggling motion which seemed to tax 

 the efforts of the youngster to hold on, the process lasting for 

 some seconds and seldom repeated at the same visit. As the 

 adults do not remove the excrement, the bottom of the basket- 

 like nest soon becomes foul, but the young manage to keep 

 clean holding tight to the w^alls by means of their sharp claws, 

 soon creeping to the entrance to peep out on the great world 

 without or to look and listen for the parents, there to receive 

 the food. Thus a period of from two to over three weeks is 

 passed, after which they emerge to spend the day on the tree 

 trunk or large branches, blinking and sunning themselves in 

 the bright light, returning to the security of the chamber on 

 the approach of a storm, threatened danger or return of night ; 

 for after all it is their home nest, snug and safe, and by no 

 means the "black hole of Calcutta" imagined. In a few 

 more days the adults, by means of much beseeching, encourag- 

 ing and threatening language, persuade one after another to 

 try its wings, and short flights are made from limb to limb and 

 tree to tree amid much excitement and flurry. Prof. Jones 

 says that the ability to fly seems to be an individual character- 

 istic, some being able to do so much earlier than others of the 

 same brood. They depend on the food, small fruit and ants 

 mainly, brought them by the old birds for some time after de- 

 parting from the home-tree, and are supplied with a small 

 quantity of gravel (grinders) before leaving the nest. Ap- 

 parently the juvenile makes its first essay to supply its own 

 wants while on the ground, as nearly all June and July speci- 

 mens were shot from that position. The tongue of the nest- 

 ling is harmless ; just when the barb appears I am unable to 

 say. One bird over a week out of its nest had not developed 

 it. Mr. Baskett says that in the fall the young of a family 

 keep well together. 



