TALKS WITH YOUNG OBSERVERS 293 



days. Evidently they liked the looks of the great 

 outside world; and one evening, just before sun- 

 down, one of them came forth. His first flight was 

 of several yards to a locust, where he alighted upon 

 an inner branch, and after some chirping and call- 

 ing proceeded to arrange his plumage and compose 

 himself for the night. I watched him till it was 

 nearly dark. He did not appear at all afraid there 

 alone in the tree, but put his head under his wing 

 and settled down for the night as if it were just what 

 he had always been doing. There was a heavy 

 shower a few hours later, but in the morning he was 

 there upon his perch in good spirits. 



I happened to be passing in the morning when 

 another one came out. He hopped out upon a limb, 

 shook himself, and chirped and called loudly. Af- 

 ter some moments an idea seemed to strike him. 

 His attitude changed, his form straightened up, and 

 a thrill of excitement seemed to run through him. 

 I knew what it all meant ; something had whispered 

 to the bird, " Fly ! " With a spring and a cry he was 

 in the air, and made good headway to a near hem- 

 lock. Others left in a similar manner during that 

 day and the next, till all were out. 



Some birds seem to scatter as soon as they are out 

 of the nest. With others the family keeps together 

 the greater part of the season. Among birds that 

 have this latter trait may be named the chickadee, 

 the bluebird, the blue jay, the nuthatch, the king- 

 bird, the phoebe-bird, and others of the true fly- 

 catchers. 



