THE HERO ENTERS SUDDENLY 



My approach was a signal for the head to 

 fly back and the beak to open to such an ex- 

 tent that it seemed fairly in danger of swal- 

 lowing its owner. If I was not at my at- 

 tendant's post, I was certain to be sum- 

 moned every ten or fifteen minutes during 

 all the waking hours of the little creature I 

 was mothering. While I fed him^ the beak 

 would remain open, the regulation squawk- 

 ing and chattering of approval going on, 

 until no more food could be accommo- 

 dated, when the satisfied little chap would 

 drop off into a comfortable snooze. 



As he grew older the intervals between 

 meals were longer and the naps fewer. 

 Had he remained in his parents' house, they 

 would probably have begun their danger 

 object-lessons at this more wakeful period 

 of his existence. 



I had no particular theory with regard to 

 Mr. Chupes' diet when I began to feed him 1 . 

 37 



