274 



.AMERIOAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



but five to deal with, and a lively time we had with the four that could 

 fly. At first the old birds would flutter about us and call to their children 

 to fly to them, and I will give them the credit for obeying beautifully. 

 When, as frequently happened, all four would fly at once, and in as many 

 different directions, we had our hands full. Finally the old birds seemed 

 to comprehend what we wanted and to realize that we would not harm 

 their birdlings, for they ceased their calling and the little ones perched 

 as contentedly on the branch as if they had alwavs been accustomed to 

 do so. 



Photo by C. A. Ree 



ABOUT TO FEED HER YOUNG. 



The little black-capped lady bird was not as timid as her mate. She 

 would come with her bill filled to overflowing with insect delicacies 

 alight on the side of the branch nearest to us and without haste or fear 

 look critically at her little ones to see which was the hungriest, and then 

 feed one, two or three, depending upon how far the rations that she 

 had brought would go; the male Chickadee, on the other hand, would 

 come with a rush, alight on the farther side of the branch, quickly thrust 

 his single worm down the throat of the nearest youngster and hurriedly 

 leave; this was soon after we had placed the young on the branch. 

 Within half an hour he, to, was quite tame, but he always kept as far 

 from us and the camera as he could stand and still tend to the wants of 

 his young. 



