SOME GARDEN BIRDS 



stopping work to do as you like, for the simple 

 reason that those creatures which will not work, 

 and work hard, soon cease to exist ! It is only 

 by steady hunting for insects that families can 

 be reared and sent out into the jworld. 



I have mentioned that I saw these young 

 wagtails start upon the great adventure it 

 was early in the morning 7.15 to be exact 

 when I went to the nest, and found one or 

 two of the nestlings had already flown, while 

 the rest were on the point of following them. 

 Hastily hiding in the little tent and bringing 

 the camera to bear on the nest, I waited events. 

 The morning sun struck warmly on the wall, 

 and the youngsters, anxious to be off, yet 

 fearful of leaving, kept hopping out of the 

 shadowy hole wherein was hidden the nest, 

 standing for a moment or two in the light, 

 and then hopping back to its shelter. What 

 dainty little birds they were in their pearl- 

 grey plumage, which is quite unlike that of the 

 old birds. They wear this uniform until the 

 autumn, then moult it and assume the black 

 and white dress. At last one of them, gather- 

 ing courage, spread its little wings and flew, 

 awkwardly and feebly it is true, to the top of my 

 tent, where I could hear it pattering about 



195 



