FRIENDS IN FEATHERS 



come, leave them alone until the following day. When they are 

 ready to desert the nest, they will follow egg, properly pre- 

 pared. If you want to set them in some especial place, never 

 pick them up and pull them by main force. If they are in a nest 

 they will grip with their feet and wreck it. If they are on a limb 

 you will almost pull the tender little things in two. Slip your 

 fingers into the nest and gently work them under their feet. The 

 toes will clasp firmly around the fingers, then by moving slowly, 

 avoiding noise and being gentle with them you can do what 

 you choose. 



I have been told by nature workers and read in many books 

 that it was impossible to take a young bird from the nest, put it 

 back, and have it remain. I should not advise anyone lacking 

 bird sense and years of experience to try it; but I have done it all 

 my life, and never once have I failed to put back a young bird 

 taken from a nest, and it always remained. This may be due to 

 the fact that I never try to lift a baby from a nest unless it know r s 

 me and will accept food from me, so I am sure I can manage it. 

 I should not dream of walking up to a nest of young birds and at- 

 tempting to touch them, without preliminary acquaintance. Of 

 course they would jump, even if they were not ready to go for days ! 



If anyone having a prejudice against the Cuckoo will enter 

 its dim, leafy haunts, make friends with it until he learns at first 

 hand its habits and nature, cultivate the young to the handling 

 point, and come away without being a Cuckoo enthusiast, he is a 

 very queer person. 



In June of 1906, after this book was with its publishers, Mr. 

 Black said to me: "There is a Cuckoo nest you should see on the 

 Aspy place." 



"I have more Cuckoo nests now than I ever can use," I 

 answered. 



"But this is different," insisted Bob. 



208 



