THE HERO ENTERS SUDDENLY 



first, a matter of surprise to me that in 

 nearly every case where the diet of earth- 

 worms was adopted, the little creatures de- 

 veloped asthma and died before reaching 

 maturity. The more I consider the matter, 

 the more natural it seems to me that out- 

 door air is the necessary digestive accom- 

 paniment of such a hearty diet as worms; 

 and again, that the slapping and banging 

 and generally masticating preparation 

 which the parent bird gives the worm 

 makes it easy for the little stomach to as- 

 similate it. 



During the cradle period, Chupes de- 

 lighted in being held in the hollow of one's 

 hand, but as such treats could only be oc- 

 casional, we made a nice nest for him of 

 soft old handkerchiefs, and a more thor- 

 oughly contented or satisfied little bird one 

 never saw. His sky was obscured only dur- 

 ing the moments of his daily bath, which he 

 39 



