AMEUICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



165 



iemale- She had just fed the two little ones nearest her and was about 

 to go when the male lit on the opposite side of the branch. He had a 

 large worm in his bill, with which to satisfy the hunger of the remain- 

 two. 



Fig. 6 shows that the disobedient bird child has run or flown away 

 again. It will be seen that the male who is feeding the young one 

 that is farthest from him, is reaching over two and the space where the 

 third one was. It is no mean acrobat who can thus maintain his 

 position with his center of gravity so far in advance of his support. 

 The last illustration shows one of the incidents in bird life that is rarely 

 seen. The male bird is the one next to the young. He had just fed 

 the one at his side when the mother came with an unusually large green 

 worm. To our surprise, instead of alighting at the opposite side of 

 the quartet, she lit at the side of her mate. In bird language she in- 

 structed him what to do, and the next moment he had hold of one end 

 of the worm bearing down with all his might while she lifted up on her 

 end until it broke in the middle. The two youngsters who have an- 

 ticipation written on every line of their faces, were the recipients of the 

 broken morsel, after which they assumed the quiet attitudes of their 

 brothers. 





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Photo from life by C. A. Reed. 



PREPARING BREAKFAST. 



