The Robin at Arm's Length 79 



their sprouting feathers, calling for more food, or dozing with 

 heads hanging down over the edge of the nest. 



The third day opened warm and clear, and towards noon 

 became very hot. Mother Robin began to brood at twelve 

 o'clock and for the space of three hours was on and off the nest 

 constantly, rarely remaining longer than ten minutes at a time 

 either at her post or away from it. On the fourth day, July 

 28th, which was destined to be hotter still, brooding began at 

 exactly eighteen minutes before ten o'clock, and the mother was 

 quietly sitting over the little ones when the tent was struck 

 long past noon. 



Many charming scenes were enacted at this nest during the 

 day, but colored phrases or colorless pictures do them scant 

 justice. You must fill in the backgrounds of soft blues and 

 greens, and add the touch of life and color to the actors on the 

 stage. 



The following extracts from my notes of this day may give 

 some idea of the panoramic character of the scenes, in which the 

 element of repetition is not wanting. 



July 28, 4th day in tent. 10 A.M. The female comes to the 

 back of the nest, delivers food and goes the rounds of in- 

 spection and cleaning, devouring the excreta on the spot, 

 then settles down on the margin of the nest, steps in, and 

 gradually tucks the young under her breast and wings. 

 10.12. A whirring sound announces the coming of the male. 

 He approaches always on the observer's right, and de- 

 liberately hops down to the nest. He is bringing a big 

 cluster of earthworms. The young get the message the 

 moment the branch is touched, and poke their heads out 

 from under their mother's tail, wings, and head, some- 

 times raising her bodily, and almost tipping her over. 

 However, she holds her place until her mate is close by, 

 then hops up and stands to one side, finally leaving him 

 to deliver what he has brought. 



10.15. The mother is back with food, but it was down the 

 throat of a young one before I could tell what it was. 

 Cleaning and brooding followed in due course as before. 



