THE BIRDS IQ3 



comes one of the old birds with all its weight on the limb. 

 The young have felt similar vibrations before and know 

 what to expect. Up go three heads at once, each mounted 

 on a slender stalk, and each bearing at its apex what might 

 suggest a full blown, brilliant flower, for, as is well known, 

 the extent of their gape is extraordinary and the inside of 

 the mouth has a bright orange hue. The young tremble 

 with violent emotions as they jostle, struggle, and call 

 with undiminished zeal even after being fed." 



"After the first visit had proved successful, confidence 

 was established at once, the female and later the male 



FIG. 150. Robin catching an earthworm. 



coming to the young at intervals of about five minutes, 

 bringing grasshoppers, and occasionally removing the 

 excreta They frequently carried five or six in- 

 sects at each load, when their bills would suggest a solid 

 load of grasshoppers, all struggling to get free." 



After feeding the young the parents carefully inspected 

 the nest and freed it of any uncleanliness. " Then after in- 

 spection is over they fly to the nearest perch, and make haste 



to clean their bills and set their dress in order 



One robin at the age of eleven days left the family circle 

 early on August i3th, and at nine o'clock the two which 

 remained were standing up and flopping their wings. 



13 



