58 



BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 



caterpillars had been devoured by this one family of 

 birds. 



Not less remarkable than the number of young 

 and no book that I have consulted records so large 

 a brood was their condition. Not only did they all 

 appear lusty, but they seemed to be about equally 

 developed, the slight difference in strength and size 

 which existed being easily attributable to a differ- 



ence in age, some interval doubtless having elapsed 

 between the hatching of the first and last egg. 



This fact would have been of interest had the 

 birds inhabited an open nest, or a nest large enough 

 for them all to have had an equal opportunity to 

 receive food; but where only two thirds of their 

 number could be seen from above at once, and where 

 a very little neglect would have resulted fatally, it 

 seems remarkable that one or more, failing to receive 

 his share of food, had not been weakened in conse- 



