200 Bird - Lore 



quite returned to his old spirits, but I was afraid to try to keep him longer, and 

 so set him free in the beautiful orchard where the little mother had the two nests. 

 Her baby had left its nest, but was keeping near home, and when the kind people 

 who owned the place, and who helped me in my study in so many ways, cut down 

 the nest, it had one tiny, unhatched egg. 



Should any one doubt my veracity when I say that that mother adopted Hugo 

 as her own, I could scarcely complain, for had I not been assured by an oculist 

 that my eyes are normal, I could scarcely believe it myself. Moreover, the wee 

 home-missionary has two eggs now in her lower nest, and, after feeding the 

 two babies, goes and sits for a while on those eggs. Think of it, — a mother four 

 inches long, with a growing baby, two eggs and a summer boarder to look after! 

 On Saturday afternoon I hurried back to Hugo, and spent hours watching the 

 little family. It was then that I learned of his adoption. He was very tame, and 

 came down to the handle of a spoon I held to drink sweetened water from the 

 bowl. I go to see him once or twice a day, and he comes down to eat from the 

 spoon each time and even allows me to stroke him. When good Mr. D., who owns 

 the orchard, went out this morning, Hugo lit on his hat, and, when his food was 

 ready, came again and ate from the spoon. When the eggs hatch, I am anxious 

 to see whether the big baby and Hugo, who is about four days older, '< will be 

 cast on the world, or whether the almost human little mother will feed all four. 



HUMMER TAKING SWEETENED WATER FROM A FLOWER 



