74 Wild Birds 



lopped off, and in their admirable and fearless manner blustered 

 about for a while, taking no pains to conceal their anger. Of 

 course they knew where their young were all the time, for in 

 certain directions their vision is keener than any man's. 



We know well with what confidence the Robin flies to its 

 nest when no danger threatens, but under the present circum- 

 stances their suspicions might well have been aroused. The 

 absence of sound and motion in strange objects is always re- 

 assuring, and soon Mother Robin could be seen perched on the 

 top of an apple tree, surveying the field. She called seetl seetf 

 while the grasshopper in her bill squirmed to get free, and the 

 young chirped loudly in reply. 



When their behavior is free and spontaneous it is pleasant 

 to see these birds act promptly without apparent hesitation. 

 They haggle over nothing, but follow the bent of their strongest 

 instincts. In the present case, the fear which controls them for 

 a time and overpowers their strong parental love is gradually 

 worn away. Suddenly down comes one of the old birds with 

 all its weight on the limb. The young have felt similar vibra- 

 tions before and know what to expect. Up go the three heads 

 at once, each mounted on a slender stalk, and each bearing at 

 its apex what might suggest a full-blown, brilliant flower, for, as 

 is well known, the extent of their gape is extraordinary and the 

 inside of the mouth has a bright orange hue. The young 

 tremble with violent emotions as they jostle, struggle, and call 

 with undiminished zeal even after being fed. 



After the first visit had proved successful, and confidence 

 was established, the female and later the male came to the 

 young at intervals of about five minutes, bringing grasshoppers, 

 and occasionally removing the excreta or devouring it on the 

 spot. They frequently carried five or six insects at one load, 

 when their bills would suggest a solid stalk of grasshoppers, all 

 struggling to get free. 



They waste nothing, and rarely allow a cricket or grass- 

 hopper to escape, but, releasing one at a time, see it safely down 

 an open mouth. Then after inspection is over they fly to the 

 nearest perch and make haste to clean their bills and set their 



