NESTS AND NESTLINGS. 43 



more. No wonder parent birds often have a 

 weary, jaded look, waiting on a half-dozen 

 youngsters with wolfish appetites from morn- 

 ing till night. I have watched a faithful 

 mother at her arduous toil, and have seen her 

 bring, on an average, one insect every minute 

 for considerably over half an hour. 



After the little birds have left the nest 

 they are still unable to find their own food. 

 They do not seem to understand the art of 

 picking, or of catching insects, but sit help- 

 lessly on a twig, opening their mouths when- 

 ever the parent birds approach. But somehow 

 they gradually learn to help themselves, per- 

 haps as much by the example of adult birds 

 as in any other way. I think, though I can not 

 be positive, that the parents give their children 

 lessons in the art of procuring a livelihood. I 

 once saw a pair of phcebes teaching a well- 

 fledged brood how to catch insects on the 

 wing ; at least, it looked very much as if they 

 were giving them their lessons. 



Yet young birds will learn in time to peck 

 and gather food without a single feathered 

 tutor to teach them. Their own instinct seems 

 to suggest how to use their beaks, so that they 

 do not make the mistake of picking up a 

 dainty with their feet, or of lapping water 



