208 Animal Life 
made the most frantic endeavours to rescue their young one, but, of course, without 
success. The framework effectually prevented his rising. We could hear their loud 
pecks on the glass through which they could so plainly see him, and witnessed their 
evident puzzlement at thei imability to reach him, and, unfortunately, our ignorance of 
bird language prevented our directing them to the opening at the top. After awhile 
the little bird ceased his struggles, and lay huddled in a heap. at the bottom of the 
pane as if unable to move. 
But the parent birds were not so easily daunted, and after a good deal of 
chattering consultation they flew away, returning in an incredibly short time with pieces 
of bread in thei beaks, which they tried by turn to put into the open beak of the 
little bird. But as they tried over and over again to push the bread through the 
glass ito the beak, they always ended by dropping the precious morsels. When this 
happened, without wasting any time in vain regrets, they immediately flew away to 
their larder for a fresh supply. This was repeated a great many times, but their 
unceasing efforts to push the bread through the glass naturally always ended in the same 
disaster. Bread was thrown by the spectators, but the shots were ill-directed and none 
of the bread reached the famished little one, though some found its way to the window- 
sill and was quickly espied by the old birds, who thenceforward obtained their supplies 
without travelling afield. 
From this time till night closed im—the accident was discovered about 11 a.m.— 
varied only by short absences, presumably to attend to the wants of the other members 
of the family, the parent birds persevered in their anxious efforts till the gathermg 
darkness compelled their withdrawal, and the poor prisoner seemed left to his fate. 
It seemed impossible that he could survive till the morning; but we were mistaken, 
and from daybreak the futile efforts of his parents to supply him with food, as well as 
their loud eries of distress, continued as on the previous day. 
Towards noon a servant was observed to enter the room, who, attracted by the 
outcry, immediately came to the rescue. 
After giving some food she placed the 
little bird outside in the yard, where he 
was at once taken in hand by his parents. 
He was almost inert through exhaustion 
and appeared to have injured his wing, 
and his parents busied themselves for some 
time attending to his wants. This done, 
however, thei next movements proved that 
they had had enough of that back yard. 
They were also bent on carrying their 
youngster with them. But here they were 
met by serious obstacles in his weakened 
condition and injured wing. At first they 
tried to induce him to fly, but alas! he 
was too weak to profit by them instruc- 
tions. After a good deal of chattering 
persuasion, however, he at length managed 
to gain the first window-sill, and bye-and- 
bye the second also; but when he attempted 
the third the poor little thing failed to reach 
it, and fell fluttermg to the ground instead. 
Yet in spite of this failure his courage was 
evidently reviving, and, encouraged by his 
“The parent birds made the most frantic endeavours to 
rescue their young one.” 
