118 The Cofianj. 



even warmer than most ordinary rooms, but still it was 

 sufficiently cold, we knew, in the night time to give rise 

 to very serious apprehensions. We had already heard 

 some weeks past of young birds being hatched, and of 

 the almost hopeless endeavour to rear them, and now it 

 was colder than ever ! Well, we could not help it, the 

 eggs were laid, the birds were sitting, and the young 

 brood would soon be hatched in all human probability. 

 To provide flannel shirts for their little naked bodies 

 was impossible, and so they must take their chance. 

 As the expected day drew nigh when the first young- 

 sters should break their shells and be introduced to the 

 light of day, all, as might be anticipated, began to be 

 eager to catch a first glimpse of the long-expected 

 treasures ! We had calculated our first birds would 

 make their appearance on the fourteenth ; but just as 

 we were on the point of starting for church the day 

 before, which happened to be Palm Sunday, Judy 

 rushed into the parlour in the highest state of excite- 

 ment, saying, she was sure a young bird was hatched. 

 At first I doubted the fact, having calculated the period 

 of incubation, which lasts fourteen days, from the day 

 the last e^^ was laid. In this, however, I was wrong, 

 the proper time being fourteen days from the first, each 

 e^^ being then consecutively hatched in the order they 

 are laid, which thus often makes two, three, and four 

 days' difference in the age of the birds. She was sure 

 she had seen a small beak stretched out above Beauty's 

 nest to be fed, and was certain her eyes had not deceived 

 her. Great was the joy which this startling intelli- 

 gence created amongst the children. For a time they 



