A WIDOW AND TWINS. 127 



had been when the bills of the young were 

 less fully developed. In my notes of this 

 date I find the following description of it : 

 "Number Two is still in the nest, but un- 

 easy. At 10.25 the mother appeared and 

 fed him. 1 Her beak was thrust into his 

 mouth at right angles, the change being 

 necessitated, probably, by the greater length 

 of his bill, and he seemed to be jerking 

 strenuously at it. Then he opened his beak 

 and remained motionless, while the black 

 mandibles of the mother could be seen run- 

 ning down out of sight into his throat." 



The other youngster, Number One, as I 

 now called him, stayed in the tree, or at 

 most ventured only into the next one, and 

 was fed at varying intervals, as often, 

 apparently, as the busy mother could find 

 anything to give him. Would he go back 

 to his cradle for the night? It seemed not 

 improbable, notwithstanding he had shown 

 no sign of such an intention so long as day- 

 light lasted. At 3.50 the next morning, 



1 For convenience, I use the masculine pronoun in 

 speaking of both the young birds ; but I knew nothing 

 as to the sex of either of them, though I came finally to 

 believe that one was a male and the other a female. 



