THE KINGBIRD 



four birds from their nest, and quite as long to settle them as I 

 wanted them, but I did it repeatedly, even carrying them from 

 their tree to the brush-heap. Never once did I hurt one of them 

 so that it chirped or made a sound, else the old birds would have 

 called excitedly and spoiled everything. The whole battle in 

 handling young birds is to avoid the first sound of a cry on their 

 part, to prevent the least fright or hurt that will cause an impulse 

 toward flight. If they can be taken from the nest the first time 

 and replaced, the remainder is easy. I have done this all my 

 life, but I was born with an extra sense pertaining to field work, I 

 have unlimited patience and time to spend on a series I desire; 

 so I secure such studies as this book contains without ever moving 

 a nest, or injuring young birds, or driving away the old ones from 

 their location. To anyone desiring to do like work, these are 

 the only possible methods to pursue. The instant a nest is 

 moved, the old birds may go to it, but never naturally, nor will 

 the nest be natural, while it is utterly impossible to take a young 

 bird in the fingers and lift it from the nest, as it will grip the 

 bottom, bringing it up with it, struggle until it cries out with 

 pain, and become so frightened that it throws the other young 

 and the elders into panic. 



Because these notably pugnacious birds responded so beauti- 

 fully to my advances and we became such fast friends, I grew 

 very fond of them. They are the bravest birds of their size, 

 they love homes and orchards for nesting locations, they are 

 beautiful perching or on wing, they are invaluable in any orchard 

 or meadow, taking their food on wing, so that they exterminate a 

 number of pests not molested by other birds. They dart from 

 high perches gathering small moths and picking worms from 

 grass-blades until they have all they wish to take at one time, 

 then fly to the nest and regurgitate the food for the young. 



They are cheerful and rather constant talkers, what they say 



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