10 BIRD KOTES 



CHAPTER IT 



MORE than fifteen years have passed away since 

 I first began to provide a morning meal at my 

 window for the birds ; and I have derived a large 

 amount of amusement and interest from the 

 practice, and also not a little instruction. One of 

 the first things that I learnt was the great 

 resemblance between birds and children ; and the 

 discovery has been of great use in dealing with 

 them. No doubt we are all of a piece, their little 

 wills and ways are the result of balanced instinct ; 

 the same instincts, and as nicely balanced, as those 

 of babies. A little more hunger, a little less fear ; 

 a little less hunger, a little more fear : up and 

 down goes the balance with unerring regularity, 

 modified only by the state of the weather and the 

 different characters of the different species of birds. 

 The action of a blue tit spreading its wings 

 over a nice little heap of crumbs that it wishes to 

 keep all to itself, scolding all the while at any 

 other bird that attempts to approach, is so like 

 that of a covetous and angry child spreading its 



