NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
fed by them entirely. Until they were ten 
days out of the nest, the feeding seemed 
to be partly by regurgitation, and partly 
direct, as other young birds are fed. Later 
I saw them on the naked ant-hills that are 
so distinctly a flicker’s feeding-ground, and 
they were apparently helping themselves ; 
but the same day the parents again fed 
them. 
The method of teaching them to forage 
for themselves was most interesting. Fat 
grubs were brought and shown to a hungry 
youngster, but instead of being given to him 
direct, were partly tucked under a strip of 
bark, where he could see them and help him- 
self. In the same way ant-hills were opened 
for him, and the white ant-eggs exposed, but 
not fed to him. Finding that all entreaties 
were in vain, he soon learned that he must 
work if he would eat. 
For several days, just at evening the 
weather became quite stormy, and I fancy 
the young flickers slept in the old nest every 
night, as well as sought it for shelter from 
168 
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