34 THE FIRST BOOK OF BIRDS 
The father came to see him now and then, and 
at last he made him fly in this way. He caught 
a fine, large moth, and brought it to the nest in 
his beak. The young bird was very hungry, 
and when he saw the food, he opened his mouth 
and fluttered his wings, so eager to get it he 
could hardly wait. 
But the parent did not feed him. He let him 
see the moth, and then, with a loud eall, he 
flew to the next tree. When the little oriole 
saw the food going away, he forgot he was 
afraid, and with a cry of horror he sprang after 
it; and so, before he knew it, he had flown. 
After the young bird ean fly, he needs to be 
taught to get his own living, or to find his own 
food, and also where to sleep. Then he must 
learn what to be afraid of, and how to protect 
himself from his enemies. 
He needs to know the different calls and cries 
of his family, and what they all mean. He has 
to learn to fly in a flock with other birds, and 
he must learn to sing. No doubt there are many 
more lessons for him that we do not know 
about. 
If you watch little birds just out of the nest, 
you may see them being taught the most useful 
and important lesson, how to find their food. 
The robin mother takes her little one to the 

