THE BIRDS AT DINNER. 



337 



arithmetical standpoint, but that it grants discounts on sound 

 principles, and that the discounted paper held by it is good. In 

 the United States there are national bank examiners, but their 

 duties do not embrace a thorough and rigid scrutiny of the 

 soundness of notes discounted. 



THE BIRDS AT DINNER. 



By HARRIET E. RICHAEDS. 



WE think of the birds as dainty creatures, fit for poetry, song, 

 and airy flights ; but if we faithfully watch them a little, 

 we shall discover that nearly their whole time and energy are de- 

 voted to securing their " daily bread." 



Our familiar song birds begin their day about three in the 

 morning; from that time until seven or eight in the evening 

 the hours are mainly occupied in searching for food. Certainly 

 they spend some time in making love, in building nests, in sing- 

 ing songs, but intermingled with it all is the constant demand for 

 something to eat. Some fruit-eating birds are said to consume 

 three times their own weight every day. Prof. Treadwell proved 

 by experiment that a young robin will eat every day, and require 



Head of Swallow. Natural size. 



Crested Flycatcher. Natural size. 



it too for perfect development, more than his own weight of ani- 

 mal food. Think of human beings eating at that rate ! Gorman- 

 dizers, indeed ! Think, too, of the labor of providing for, say, four 

 such hungry, greedy little ones ! 



Scientific investigation has proved that nearly all birds feed 

 their young on insects, worms, or some form of animal food, and 

 also depend mainly on such food for themselves at that busy 

 period of their lives, although at other seasons their favorite food 

 may be grains and berries. Dr. Brewer says a pair of jays feed 

 their young five hundred thousand caterpillars in a season, and 

 that they will destroy one million eggs each winter ; and that a 

 chickadee will largely exceed these figures. 



VOL. XLIX. 28 



