CURIOUS WAY OF FEEDING. 39 



that these two were the birthdays of the babes 

 in the wood. 



Thirteen days were devoted to the study of the 

 manners and customs of the parents before the 

 hidden subjects of their solicitude gave any signs 

 of life visible from below. Though visits were 

 about half an hour apart, and flicker babies have 

 very good appetites, they did not go hungry, 

 for on every occasion they had *& hearty meal in- 

 stead of the single mouthful that many young 

 birds receive. This fact was guessed at on the 

 thirteenth day, when the concealed little ones 

 came out of the darkness up to the door, and the 

 parents' movements in feeding could be seen; 

 but the whole curious process was plain two days 

 later, when a young golden-wing appeared at 

 the opening and met his supplies half-way. The 

 food-bearer clung to the bark beside the en- 

 trance, leaned over, turned his head on one side, 

 and thrust his beak within the slightly opened 

 beak of his offspring. In this position he gave 

 eight or ten quick little jerks of his head, which 

 doubtless represented so many mouthfuls; then, 

 drawing back his head, he made a motion of the 

 throat, as though swallowing, which was, pre- 

 sumably, raising instead, for he leaned over 

 again and repeated the operation in the waiting 

 mouth. This performance was gone through 

 with as many as three or four times in succession 



