Home Life 



she tantalizes the hungry baby, perhaps, but she 

 educates him with no loss of time. When finally 

 the young are able to trip lightly, swiftly over the 

 grass after their parents, have learned to cock their 

 heads to one side and listen with the intentness of 

 veterans for the stirring of worms beneath the sod, 

 to capture their own food and fly swiftly out of the 

 presence of danger, their education is considered 

 complete. The remainder they must acquire by 

 experience, for even now their parents may be re- 

 pairing the old nest or building a new one to receive 

 a second brotfd. 



BABY BIRDS' DIET 



Walking along a hot, sandy road in Florida one 

 morning, I met a young coloured woman with a 

 little baby in her arms, pacing back and forth under 

 a blazing sun. A glance sufficed to show that her 

 baby was ill. It moaned piteously and its skin was 

 burning hot, as well it might be even without fever. 



"Come under this tree," said I, "and tell me 

 why you are carrying that baby about in the heat." 



"'Cause he's sick and I'se waitin' fo' de doctor 

 to happen along dis y^eah road." 



" What do you think is the matter with your 

 baby?" 



" I specks he done eat too much fried fish dis 



mornin'. 



"Fried fish!' I exclaimed. "Why, the baby 

 has no teeth ! " 



" No'm ; he ain't got no teeth yet, but he's 

 powerful fond of fried fish." 



73 



