34 OUR BACKDOOR NEIGHBORS 



difficulties of the climb were such that the few 

 that chanced to see it were content to decide 

 that it was a last year's nest and unused. 

 While Mother Red-tail brooded over the eggs, 

 Father Red-tail spent hours sailing high in the 

 upper air or watched silently from the top- 

 most branch of a dead tree that furnished a 

 favorable lookout over the surrounding 

 country. 



Finally the shells opened, and three downy 

 little birds replaced the eggs in the nest. They 

 were very weak at first, and as downy as little 

 ducks, although much whiter in color. Mrs. 

 Red-tail still spent most of her time on the 

 nest for several days, while the young birds 

 were very small. The demands for food were 

 slight during those first days, and a mouse or 

 two which the mother would tear to bits fur- 

 nished them with a hearty meal. They grew 

 very fast, however, and soon it kept both 

 Father and Mother Red-tail very busy to sup- 

 ply food for the growing family. 



The Naturalist now became very watchful 

 and spent much time hidden in the woods 

 where he could watch the nest and see the 

 parent birds when they fed the young. He 

 still felt some anxiety lest one or both of the 



