WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



When they first tumble out of their nest 

 young blackbirds and thrushes fly but feebly ; 

 they cannot steer well, they can only flap along 

 into the bushes, and there hop from branch to 

 branch. What a change it is one moment 

 they are warm and snug, a happy family 

 wedged tightly into their almost overflowing 

 nest, looking out on to the great world of 

 greenery with its unknown joys and dangers ; 

 next minute they have gone over the edge, 

 and are fairly launched into the new life. 

 Generally something makes them go. They 

 sit there hesitating, fearful of the great adven- 

 ture, feeling life strong within them, and the 

 impulse we call ' instinct ' bidding them set 

 forth, while the old birds call and urge them to 

 come, but if nothing unexpected happens they 

 may put it off for hours. They settle down 

 into the nest once more, preen their feathers, 

 doze, swallow greedily the food brought by 

 their untiring parents, until startled into action 

 by something unexpected. It may be a pass- 

 ing dog, cat, or person, but the fright sends 

 them fluttering with frantic squeaks into the 

 surrounding bushes. One goes one way, one 

 another, each ' freezing ' into a motionless 

 object wherever it alights, while the old birds, 

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