THE BIRDS OF COWSLIP CORNER 159 



and presently he paused in his work. 

 She opened her beak and he handed all 

 the remaining food to her ; she almost 

 immediately passed this on to the young, 

 and he still stood there watching her. 

 When all the food had been given he 

 did a pretty thing. I do not know if 

 birds ever kiss, but it certainly looked 

 like it. He had no more food to give 

 her, and just before leaving he just turned 

 towards her, and with the tip of his own 

 beak he gently rubbed hers ! The next 

 instant he turned round and flew away 

 to search for another supply of food ; but 

 on his journey he paused a moment, and 

 sang a few little notes to his mate, as 

 she went again to her young and covered 

 them with her warm wings. 



In a bush underneath the tall trees a 

 Blackcap had its home. It was a fragile 

 structure, and when I discovered it one 

 side of the nest had broken away from 

 its supports, and an egg had slipped out 



