and Titmice 121 



next endeavour — a difficult task, for they had wriggled 

 away into nettles and grass. 



But by careful search I at last found three — there 

 were seven or eight in all, I believe — and I was not 

 proof against the temptation of taking them with a 

 hope of rearing them. 



Their age was an awkward one. 



It was more than probable that they would sulk. 

 And they did, for a few hours ! 



After that, one more bold or more hungry than the 

 others, suddenly stretched up his neck, encouraged by 

 chirpings on my part, opened a tiny mouth of brightest 

 orange, and received therein an atom of raw beef. 

 This apparently pleased him so much, that down the 

 orange lane it went, and up went his head for more, as 

 he uttered a minute jarring squeak. My hopes were 

 raised. 



His example was beneficial. 



A second baby wren put up its head, with open 

 bill, and his hunger likewise was gratified. 



The difficulty was to place such tiny pieces of food 

 in such tiny mouths, but much practice with other 

 birds no doubt made the task an easier one. 



On the following morning I found the poor little 

 fellows were evidently suffering from cold, although 

 they had been tucked up in some flannel for the night. 

 So I fetched a hot-water bottle in its red jacket, and 

 placed them on it. 



The effect was magical. 



Their feathers, which had become puffed out, all 

 tightened up ; their eyes brightened ; and they stretched 



