190 



Wild Birds 



Chestnut-sided Warbler, devour a part and often the major 

 part of the excreta at the nest. This is a very common practice 



with the War- 

 bler, Robin, 

 Waxwing, and 

 Vireos, but was 

 only casually 

 observed in the 

 others. 



The Robin 

 hasundoubtedly 

 been seen b y 

 many in the 

 characteristi c 

 pose shown in a 

 number of the 

 photographs, 

 standing on the 

 rim of the nest 

 with the head 

 erect, or inclined 

 as if doting on 

 her young ones 

 and thinking 

 what fine child- 

 Fig. 118. A common scene at nest of the Chestnut-sided ren they Were, 

 'Warbler. The male brings food, while his mate, who is i pa c fVii<; at 



brooding, receives it into her own bill and passes it on to the Wn 



children. titude is really 



one of sanitary 



inspection. When an old bird of any of the species mentioned 

 above has fed one of the brood, its duty is but half done; it 

 pauses, bends over, and keenly scrutinizes each young bird in turn 

 and every part of the nest. Shortly after being fed, the nestling 

 becomes very uneasy, and raises its body as if to drop the sac over 

 the edge of the nest. The old bird follows every movement, snaps 

 up the package as it leaves the body, and either swallows it im- 

 mediately or carries it off. When seen flying from the nest with 



