386 LAND BIRDS 
“talk” in low, gurgling tones as they fed and cared for 
the little ones. It was wonderful how those harsh 
voices became modulated for baby ears. Any approach 
to the nest on my part was received with a chorus of 
shrieks from both parents, defiant threats directed toward 
my eyes, and other unpleasantness ; but, fortunately, it 
being only eleven feet from the ground no great climb- 
ing was necessary. Surely such homely babies needed 
no violent defence from kidnapping! They were naked, 
dark greenish purple, with sightless knobs for eyes and 
long necks on which the dark skin hung in loose wrinkles. 
But to the doting parents none were ever more beauti- 
ful and none were more closely guarded. Crickets, other 
insects, and larvee were crammed down their throats at 
the rate of forty-three in thirty minutes, — not much for 
them, but a goodly amount for the hard-working pro- 
viders to catch and bring. Each one was carefully 
crushed, the crickets being deprived of their wings and 
legs before being given to the nestling. ‘To watch these 
industrious hunters pursue their game in the wet grass 
near the lake or the dryer wood Jots where near the 
rotting logs they found the huge black crickets, was 
fully as interesting as to see them feed the young. 
Though so dignified and stately when walking leisurely 
on the ground, they became ludicrously excited when in 
a hurry, and with long tail elevated swooped down 
upon the unfortunate insect with the air of one doing 
great deeds. 
At the end of two weeks the nestlings were covered 
with the iridescent sheen of the adults, but their tails 
