that these birds are always watched with interest, from their advent until their departure. 
One morning the unusual actions of the female led to the discovery that one of the young, 
half-fledged nestlings had fallen to the ground, where it was struggling helplessly. It was 
carefully taken up and a straw was observed protruding from its mouth. The straw had 
been mostly swallowed, and resisted the gentle force that was used for its extraction. 
Rather hard pulls were then given, which must have been distressing to that part of the 
bird's anatomy to which the swallowed end was anchored. At last the straw broke, 
leaving an end visible, but beyond reach far down the throat, so that nothing more could 
be done to take it away. A box lined with cotton was then provided, the young bird 
placed in it, and hauled up close to the nest by means of a string. After this the parent 
birds were seen feeding, or trying to feed, the sufferer ; but all was in vain. The little 
one died. 
oO 
ur 
