34 



In a few moments maternal affection would over- 

 come her natural desire for the wherewithal to keep 

 body and soul together, and she would "bring up " 

 the food and thrust it into the gullet of one of the 

 youngsters. It was amusing to watch the inward 

 struggle between her natural greed and her fondness 

 for her offspring that took place whenever she 

 obtained any food. And, to give her her due, love of 

 her children almost invariably prevailed, although 

 sometimes the struggle was a severe one. On one 

 occasion I saw the mother bird swallow, or half 

 swallow, a piece of toast five times before she could 

 bring herself to part with it. 



Of course, as the youngsters grew^ older the 

 mother bird yielded less and less frequently to their 

 importunities. 



This care of parents for their young after these 

 have left the nest is an important phenomenon. 

 If it did not exist newly-fledged birds would fare 

 very badly in the fierce struggle for existence. 



