194 CONVERSATIONS ON 



says that he has found at least a hundred of 

 these nests, and watched the birds for a whole 

 morning together, and never saw one sitting 

 on the small nest as a watch-bird; but 

 has seen both the male and female arrive at 

 the nest together, perch upon the nearest 

 branch, hop from this upon the edge of the 

 little nest, and then putting their heads into the 

 hole, dart into the large nest. And now, boys, 

 what do you think about the use of these 

 little pockets?" 



" Oh, Uncle Philip, we think that what you 

 tell us is always right, because you know a 

 great deal more than we do." 



" But, boys, you do not understand me. I 

 may be mistaken, though I do know more 

 than you. I have been telling you my reasons 

 for thinking these little pockets are nothing 

 but perches. Do you think the reasons are 

 good ones ?" 



" Why, yes, Uncle Philip, we do. The 

 French gentleman who watched the birds so 

 much would have seen some of them using 

 the pockets for a place to keep watch in, if 

 they were made for that." 



" Right, boys. What I wish to teach you 

 is to think for yourselves. Whenever any 



