CAMEOS OF WILD LIFE. 67 



most luxuriant, and affords good cover on the banks of 

 the stream. All these birds are sure to be met with by 

 the naturalist if he follows the course of the brook ; but 

 we will be satisfied to-day with a glimpse at the domes- 

 tic life of the Gray Wagtail. The pair of birds whose 

 nest I have been watching for weeks have brought their 

 young ones out at last. Five wee little birdies crouch 

 here and there either on the stones in the centre of the 

 stream, or amongst the grass and primroses on the 

 bank. The parents become alarmed and fly up into the 

 alder trees, calling loudly and incessantly ; but they 

 soon quieten down, and as I sit on the bank begin to 

 feed their young with a charming trustfulness. Both 

 male and female are equally assiduous in their attend- 

 ance on their young ones, catching flies in the air 

 and among the pebbles, and feeding each one in turn. 

 It is a pretty sight to see the parent approach with an 

 insect, the young bird half flying, half running quickly 

 forward to receive it with open beak and fluttering 

 wings. Such round and feeble little pinions yet, too 

 weak to support the bird in any prolonged flight, but 

 becoming stronger every hour. Most young birds 

 leave the nest before they can fly far, and this causes 

 much mortality amongst them. They are all too 

 eager to come out into the world ; if they would only 

 stay a day longer in their cosy beds, they would be 

 much better able to escape their enemies. I have my 



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