48 NEWS FROM THE BIRDS. 



liatched, and even after they go from the nest 

 she does not take care of her own toddlers, 

 but gives them entu*ely over into the hands 

 of the foster parents. 



Before the little sparrows leaped from the 

 nest it was comical to see how they were ar- 

 ranged. The frowsy bunting was occupying 

 the center of the cup, while his tiny compan- 

 ions were ranged around him, partly covering 

 him, and thus keeping him snug and Avarm. 

 He was not as far advanced as his tiny fellow- 

 infants, and made no attempt to get out of the 

 nest, but cuddled down close against the bot- 

 tom. When I lifted him out, he drew with 

 him by his clinging claws a part of the lining 

 of the nest. As the sparrows had a large 

 enough family to take care of without this 

 strapping youngster, I carried him home and 

 adopted him into my own family of pet 

 birds. 



In a meadow green and sweet there was a 

 red- winged blackbird's nest, placed in a tuft of 

 grass. There were but two eggs in it at first. 

 As time passed the grass grew taller, thus hid- 

 ing the nest more completely and making it 

 more cozy. The little birds broke shell at 

 about the time of the exit of the young 

 meadow larks, perhaps a few days later. But 



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