Development and Care of the Young 183 



even the silent Cedar-bird finds a voice and gives an impatient 

 cheet ! If this premonitory call passes unheeded it becomes ex- 

 tremely shrill, especially in Kingbirds, with whom failure on 

 the part of their young to quick response seems to be peculiarly 

 exasperating. 



While watching a Kingbird's nest from the tent, a moth 



Fig. 113. The same bird watching the food in the throat. If not 

 immediately swallowed, the insect is withdrawn and passed around 

 until a bird with the proper reaction time is found. 



miller was once brought in by the male. It was passed to each 

 one of the young in turn, but even under the spur of his shrill 

 chitter they were unresponsive, and he devoured the prey 

 himself. This sharp economy is often practiced at the nest, 

 and I have even seen the leg of a grasshopper picked up and 

 eaten by an old bird. Not a crumb is allowed to go to waste. 

 If an insect gets away it is usually pursued and immediately 

 snapped up. Once, however, I saw a female Kingbird fooled by 



