24 THE HOME-LIFE OF 



now and then, the Sparrows were always too quick and 

 took good care to be gone before the old ones returned, 

 their hurried departure more than once telling me of 

 the Storks' arrival. 



The next morning was as mild and still as the previous 

 day had been stormy, and the young Storks seemed to 

 appreciate the change no less than I did, and evinced 

 a lively interest in my doings (Plate i8), watching my 

 every movement as I climbed up until I crept inside. In a 

 few minutes the mother returned, but, much to the young 

 ones' disgust, bringing with her only a billful of dead 

 grass. Having scattered it in front of them, she tucked 

 up one leg and stood in the position so dear to the artist, 

 the chicks meanwhile playfully pecking at her dangling 

 toes. It was while so standing that she first noticed the 

 camera, and I am glad indeed that all birds are not as 

 unsuspicious as she proved to be, else would bird-photo- 

 graphy lose all its fascination. The apparatus did not 

 trouble her in the least, and though the shutter's click 

 each time caused a start and a tightening of the feathers, 

 she relaxed again almost at once with scarce a glance in 

 my direction. The second time I was in the tree she 

 came sweeping up to the nest and in passing rattled the 

 branches within a yard of my head, making me start 

 violently, and yet on alighting gave not one glance 

 behind her at the strange thing she had just passed. 



The plumage of the old birds was always dirty, 

 especially that of the female, and this was emphasized 

 by the spotless brilHant whiteness of the back, wing-coverts 

 and neck of the young, their breasts being somewhat soiled 

 by contact with the nest. This difference is especially 

 noticeable in Plates 15 and 16. 



The morning was very hot, and the chicks seemed play- 

 ful, taking diversion between meals, and incidentally 

 a little dessert, by trying with some success to catch the 

 flies which settled on their brothers' backs. The quarry 

 was abundant and of many kinds, doubtless attracted by 



