POCKET MAKERS. Ill 



in his bill, and one of the young, presumably, fol- 

 lowed him for it, flying up on his twig. The old 

 bird turned his back upon the little one and went 

 on shaking the grub. Presently a second one flew 

 down on the other side of him, he was between 

 two fires ; they touched him on both sides. I 

 watched with interest to see what he would do 

 about it, and was much amused when he opened 

 his wings and flew up over their heads out of 

 reach ! Would he come back to feed them after 

 his food was properly prepared ? No, he sat 

 up on the branch and ate the morsel himself ! I 

 was rather shocked by such a deliberate pro- 

 ceeding, but then it occurred to me that parent 

 birds have to take a bite themselves once in a 

 while ; though of course their business is to feed 

 the children! " 



