XVII 
HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS 
Many people think that as soon as the young 
birds of a nest are full grown, and know how to 
take care of themselves, the family separate, and 
have no more to do with each other. Some have 
even said that the old birds push the little ones 
out of the nest to get rid of them. 
All this is a great mistake, and any one who 
has watched them carefully will say so. 
In many eases, when the brood is grown and 
all have left the nest, the whole family keep to- 
gether. One who has eyes sharp to see will find 
everywhere little groups of parents with their 
young. If the old birds rear more than one 
brood in a summer, the young ones of the first 
nest keep together. 
I have often seen little parties of young blue- 
birds or sparrows going about after food on the 
grass, or on the newly cut hay. Now and then 
one of the parents would come around as if to 
see that all was well, and then leave them alone 
