52 IN BIRD-LAND 



while their parents are away searching for sup- 

 plies ; for they busy themselves by preening their 

 feathers and by putting themselves into all sorts 

 of grotesque positions. Occasionally one will 

 overbalance, twisting round on the branch, but 

 soon again flutters into a sitting posture ; then 

 " mother " calls zee, zee, zee, from a fir-tree hard by, 

 and all the others give attention. Then as the 

 mother bird flies towards them they flutter their 

 half-fledged wings in excitement ; one more im- 

 patient than the rest makes an attempt to meet 

 her, but finding that it cannot yet fly well enough 

 settles lower down in the bush. Then the other 

 parent bird approaches from another direction to 

 join its mate, and each in turn gives an insect, the 

 young Titmice showing their pleasure by the 

 slight movement of their wings. This being done, 

 away go the parent Titmice once more for further 

 supplies, and to return in a short time. Presently 

 they will induce their young to follow into the thick 

 of the wood. I once saw all this take place, and 

 regretted that I had not my camera, as the young 

 allowed me to get quite near to them without 

 showing signs of fear. 



Round about our garden last spring we had eight 

 different species of birds breed, viz. : Whitethroat. 

 Garden -Warbler, Hedge-Sparrow, Wren, Great 



