I2O 



Wild Birds 



crickets had been dispatched, another Asilus, the hairy robber fly, 

 already mentioned, was brought in. Then another bright green 

 katydid, with its wings half spread in its vain effort to get free, was 

 served to the young. If frightened in an attempt to enter the nest 



Fig. 73. Standing at entrance with large grasshopper in bill. 



this bird invariably returned shortly, and after the feeding was 

 over, would take the excreta, and fly some distance before drop- 

 ping it. In no case was it known to be eaten at the nest. During 

 the afternoon, when these birds had become more at ease in their 

 new surroundings, the nest was cleaned six times in two hours. 

 I saw this bird bring to her young no less than twenty grass- 

 hoppers, four cone-headed katydids, two black crickets, besides 

 larvae and many small insects. During the forenoon, in the 



