44 NEWS FROM THE BIRDS. 



with their tongues. The birds which I have 

 reared — bluebirds, wood thrushes and a brown 

 thrasher — had to be fed by hand for two or 

 three weeks or more, but by and by they 

 began of their own accord to peck a^vkwardly 

 at their food, keeping it up until they became 

 expert and could rely solely upon their own 

 efforts. 



Everything had to be learned by degrees. 

 At first they were unable to move their food 

 back into their throats from the ends of their 

 beaks, and would often flick it away in their 

 efforts to swallow it ; but after a while they 

 learned the use of their tongues, and were able 

 to swallow as fast as they could pick up their 

 food. Tlie first awkward attempts, however, 

 were very laughable. So was the look of sur- 

 prise that they bent upon me when I gave 

 them a tidbit that they did not relish, which 

 sometimes happened in my experimenting. If 

 I kept on with the same kind of food, they 

 would refuse to take it, the drollest look of 

 disgust coming into their eyes. 



Some people think a nestful of young birds 

 anything but a pretty sight. It is true, nest- 

 lings that are still callow or in their pin- 

 feathers are not as handsome as they will be 

 by and by when they have donned their com- 



