64 A SUMMER RESIDENT 



Then it is pounded on the ground, tied neatly in a 

 bundle, and carried speedily to the nest to fill those 

 gaping, yellow throats* After the greedy progeny 

 leave the nest and learn to cry out for food the 

 parents become still more assiduous* The biggest 

 and fattest of the brood cry out the loudest, and as 

 a consequence get the most food* Sometimes after 

 one lusty-throated little gourmand has been fed into 

 temporary quietness with half a dozen worms, a little, 

 attenuated twin -brother, sitting unobserved in the 

 shadow of a limb, is given an unattached worm, 

 which he swallows in silent thankfulness. When the 

 demands of the brood seem almost insatiable the 

 weary and overworked parents suddenly decide to go 

 on strike* There is an outburst of indignation on the 

 part of the full-grown progeny* They seem to feel 

 grievously wronged. They dart at the idling parents 

 as if to drive them off in search of food* They chase 

 them from place to place in vain* The elders submit 

 to everything but a return to parental serfdom* In a 

 day the importunate juniors realise that their support 

 has been withdrawn and learn to get along without 

 it* Now they are making their own way in the world, 

 and for a time the mellow songs of early spring are 

 renewed* Soon the cares and delights of a second 

 brood will supplant the joys of the interval of song. 



