802 THE REASON WHY : 



Oft -when returning with her loaded bill, 



Th' astonished mother finds a vacant nest, 



Robb'd by the hard hand of unrelenting clowns." THOMSON. 



bird, which was directing its flight towards the portico of the Gallery; hut rinding: 

 its motions watched, it turned short round and perched with its straw on one of 

 the window-sills, and the people then passed on. Presently it flew again towards 

 the portico, but the people again stopping and looking, it came back to the 

 window, until the second lot of gazers went their way. The little bird then 

 started again with its straw towards one of the same pillars, and, cutting round 

 it so as to avoid prying eyes as much as possible, bore it to the capital of one of the 

 pilasters and disappeared, straw and all, into the snug nook made by a part of the 

 projecting ornament, which it had chosen as the place for making its nest. 



969. Why do the young birds of some species demand the 

 parents' care for a longer period than others ? 



The condition of young birds depends upon the state in which 

 they emerge from the shell. The partridge and the plover come out 

 of the shell in full activity, and may be said, in part at least, to find 

 their own food in the very same hour. Even at this stage they 

 run very rapidly, and have a clothing of down, which protects 

 them from change of temperature during the early period of 

 their existence. 



The roolc, on the contrary, comes forth from the shell callow, and 

 in a helpless state, so that it would perish if not fed by the 

 parent bird ; and if not, in the early stage, sheltered by that 

 bird during the night. Its feathers are not preceded by a downy 

 coat, but first appear in little tufts issuing from those sheathes in 

 which they are produced. The young rook is accordingly fed by 

 its parent for a considerable time, and does not perch apart from 

 the nest ; nor does it take flight, or in anyway provide for itself, 

 until it is fully fledged. 



970. Why do male birds evince an affection for their oj 

 while on the other hand, in 'many other species of the animal 

 creation, the male parent neglects, and does not even recognise, 

 its young ? 



This exceptional instance of parental affection on the part of the 

 male bird is a beautiful provision of Providence in accordance 

 with the necessities and habits of the creature. Amongst birds, 

 food for the young has in most instances to be brought from a 



