[INA THE, NORDEA OF KENT 75 
the parents make for them; and what dis- 
tances many have to travel, and what search- 
ing to find just the proper delicate morsels 
suitable for their young progeny, and doubt- 
less, too, much bird anxiety to get enough for 
all. We can imagine how tired the parents 
must be at the end of the day. And how dis- 
hevelled their feathers become, the hen especi- 
ally showing this. And the whole has in 
some cases to be gone through again, and 
even for a third time each season. And 
when the summer is ended and the lowering 
temperature, the falling leaves, and failing 
food tell the birds that they must quit the 
scenes of their toil, comes, in the case of the 
migrants, the long and dangerous flight across 
the sea, in cold and wet or changing wind, 
may be, or sudden fog, and many a still 
further mile when land is found again, until 
a warmer clime is reached. And here again 
they have to seek their daily food. Is it 
a wonder that the limit of small bird-life is 
as estimated, I believe, only three or four 
years! and that a very large percentage, even 
