COURAGE OF PARENT BIRD. 65 



eighty to ninety grains. I could always perceive 

 by the animation of the young brood when the 

 old one was coming, probably some low note 

 indicated her approach, and in an instant every 

 mouth was open to receive the insect morsel. 

 But there appeared no regularity in the supply 

 given by the parent bird: sometimes the same 

 was fed two or three times successively, and I 

 generally observed that the strongest got most, 

 being able to reach farthest, the old one delivering 

 it to the mouth nearest to her." 



Not only is the patience of the motlicr-bird 

 required during the time- of sitting on the eggs, 

 but when the nestlings are hatched they require, 

 the warmth of her sheltering wings, both by day 

 and night, so that for several days after she is 

 unable to (juit them lest they shoidd die of cold. 

 iVnd now, too, the timid bird becomes courageous, 

 and will brave any danger to protect or feed the 

 nestlings. Instances are recorded in which the 

 lark, usually so easily frightened, has fluttered 

 before the fowler to call his attention away from 

 her younglings; and many birds, like the blue 

 titmouse, will follow the person who seizes the 

 young, and amid wild screams w411 rush at tlw 



