88 IN NATURE'S WAYS 



until you catch sight of a little party of her ducklings, 

 from whom she was trying to tempt you away. 



Gilbert White tells the most charming story of the 

 affection of a pair of flycatchers for their nestlings. 

 These birds built every year in the vines growing on his 

 house at Selborne. Once they placed their nest on a 

 naked bough ; but a hot sunny season came on before 

 the brood was half fledged, and then the reflection of 

 the sun from the wall was so great that it must have 

 destroyed the young birds if it had not been for the 

 action taken by the parents. 



All through the hotter hours they hovered over the 

 nest, while, " with wings expanded, and mouths 

 gaping for breath, they screened off the heat from their 

 suffering offspring." 



The wings would act, not only as sunshades, but as 

 fans. 



LUbcn the Sioalloios Come 



" With us [at Selborne, Hampshire] the swallow was first seen 

 on April the 4th ; the swift on April the 24th ; the bank-martin on 

 April the 1 2th ; and the house-martin not till April the 3oth." 



