320 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



" I once witnessed the hatching of a brood of 

 turkeys, which I watched for the purpose of 

 securing them, together with the parent. I con- 

 cealed myself on the ground, within a very few 

 feet, and saw her raise herself half the length of 

 her eggs, look anxiously on the eggs, cluck with 

 a sound peculiar to the mother on such occasions, 

 carefully remove each half-empty shell, and with 

 her bill caress and dry the young birds that al- 

 ready stood tottering and attempting to make 

 their way out of the nest. Yes, I have seen this, 

 and have left mother and young to better care 

 than mine could have proved, to the care of their 

 Creator and mine. I have seen them all emerge 

 from the shell, and, in a few moments after, 

 tumble, roll, and push each other forward with 

 astonishing and inscrutable instinct." Although 

 the terms in which this anecdote is expressed are 

 somewhat obscure, yet it appears as if they were 

 intended to convey some idea of the mother's 

 rendering assistance to her escaping chicks. 



A period of new cares is thus opened upon the 

 affectionate parents. These little beings, so fresh 

 born into a rough world, are too tender to endure 

 much exposure, and the parental task of covering 



