PHASES OF BIRD LIFE. 175 
same kind of leaves, of which the blade, instead of 
being stripped off, was perforated with innumerable 
small holes, making them look like extremely fine 
sieves. In some cases the blades seemed to be 
split, leaving the veins and veinlets exposed, so that 
one could trace their intricate net-work. Another 
cuckoo nest had both the stripped and perforated 
leaves, but fewer of each kind. Whether the birds 
themselves did the artistic work on these leaves or 
not, —that is a question. The stripping of the 
upper layer of their blades would allow the dust and 
scaly substance shed by the young birds, to sift 
through to the second layer, where it would not 
come in direct contact with the nurslings. The 
two carpets were laid, no doubt, in the interests of 
health and cleanliness. 
But it is time to turn our attention to the children 
of the nursery. ‘The life of young birds in the nest, 
—what a field for study! One thing they learn 
very early, probably almost as soon as they emerge 
from the shell; that is, to open their mouths for 
food. No tutor or professor needed for that! Most 
young birds soon become quite clamorous for their 
rations. Lowell must have looked into more than 
one bira nursery, or he scarcely would have thought 
of writing the lines, — 
“ Blind nestlings, unafraid, 
Stretch up, wide-mouthed, to every shade 
By which their downy dream is stirred, 
Taking it for the mother-bird.” 
A nestful of half-callow younglings, standing on 
