74 A LONG, DAY WITH, THE BIRDS 
an archway, whilst the banks were covered 
with sheets of small white flowers. To add 
to the effect, a picturesque old son of toil 
came up with a horse and cart, and I re- 
gretted the fact that no camera could snap- 
shot the group, as it was too dark under the 
trees....fhe word,’ toil’ setme thinking yar 
how birds have to work. They al/ have to 
find their daily food and drink somehow— 
somewhere, and this is not done often with- 
out many long journeys on the wing. And 
then at nesting-time, think of the long days 
of nest-building. The materials have to be 
found, carefully selected and carried bit by 
bit, and bit by bit it has to be fitted and 
worked into the neat nest that excites our 
wonder and admiration. And then come the 
many patient days of incubation. And as 
soon as the young family arrives the work 
multiplies into the feeding of four, five, six, 
or more youngsters that are hungry from the 
first shimmer of morning to the last flicker 
of daylight. And they require to be fed for 
many weeks. What journeys to and fro 
