16 THE FIRST BOOK OF BIRDS 
days of their lives, the father often brings most 
of the food. Sometimes he gives it to the 
mother, and she feeds the little ones. But 
sometimes she gets off the nest, and flies away 
to rest, and get something to eat for herself, 
while he feeds the nestlings. 
There is one bird father who — it is thought 
—never comes to the nest, either to watch the 
egos or to help feed the nestlings. That is our 
hummingbird, the ruby throat. 
We do not know the reason he does so, and 
it is not fair to say hard things about him until 
we do. It may be that he thinks his shining 
ruby would show the hiding-place of the nest, 
or it may be that the little mother is not willing 
to have any help. I think this last is the real 
reason, for she has a great deal of spirit, and 
always drives away others from her feeding- 
places. 
Young birds grow very fast, and soon feathers 
begin to come out all over them. They are not 
very pretty at this time. 
