THE FIRST BABY OUT. 123 



home were very restless, crowding, and almost 

 pushing each other out. They could well spare 

 their elder brother, for before he left he had 

 walked all over them at his pleasure ; and how 

 he could help it in those close quarters I do 

 not see. 



While I looked on, papa came with provi- 

 sions. At one time the food consisted of green 

 worms about twice as large as a common knit- 

 ting needle. Three or four of them he held 

 crosswise of his beak, and gave one to each 

 nestling. The next course was a big white grub, 

 which he did not divide, but gave to one, who 

 had considerable difficulty in swallowing it. 



I said the birds did not notice the family, but 

 they very quickly recognized me as a stranger. 

 They stood and glared at me in the cardinal 

 way, and uttered some sharp remonstrance ; but 

 business was pressing, and I was unobtrusive, 

 so they concluded to ignore me. 



The advent of the first redbird baby seemed 

 to give much pleasure, for the head of the family 

 sang a good deal in the intervals of feeding; 

 and both of the pair appeared very happy over 

 it, often alighting beside the wanderer, evidently 

 to encourage him, for they did not always feed. 

 The youngster, after an hour, perhaps, flew 

 about ten feet to a peach-tree, where he strug- 

 gled violently, and nearly fell before he secured 



