THE BABIES FLY 107 



birdlet, its contexture, beautie, profit and 

 use, no, nor the nest of a seely spider," says 

 Montaigne. 



In another part of the island, a year or 

 two later, another parula nest was taken. It 

 was quite different from mine, being as deep 

 as a vireo's nest, and the strands of moss 

 woven together to form a solid bottom almost 

 as firm as the Baltimore oriole's nest, though 

 with no lining. The study differed also in 

 another respect : the birds were not at all 

 shy, and the male took his full share of feed- 

 ing. 



This nest was closely watched by an en- 

 thusiastic bird-student, who had the pleasure 

 of seeing the youngsters make their exit from 

 the home cradle. The mother as she re- 

 ports coaxed the first nestling to try its 

 wings by alighting on the branch and call- 

 ing again and again, then feeding the little 

 one who stood lingering on the brink. When, 

 after some time, this one flew, the mother 

 departed with it, and the father took his turn 

 with the last nestling. He fed and called, 

 making short flights about the tree, and at 

 last executed a peculiar movement, which 



