184 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 97 



and fed to them. The parent remained on the side of the nest 

 until five o'clock. At 5 :03 the little birds were again quiet 

 and remained so until 5 -.15 when one of them stood up and 

 moved its wings. 



July 28, 7:45-9:45 A. M., 1:00-3:15 P. M. 



When I arrived I found only three young birds. The 

 largest had disappeared, probably having fallen, from the nest, 

 at any rate I was unable to find any trace of it. Of the re- 

 maining three, two were nearly the same size and the third a 

 little larger. Their wing feathers were an inch long and their 

 tail feathers an inch and a half. The tail feathers showed the 

 yellow terminal band. At eight o'clock a parent bird calle^l, 

 and the little birds answered. It flew to the nest over my box, 

 flying so close to my face that I ducked my head instinctively. 

 This frightened it so that it flew off, but remained away only 

 a half minute. It brought blue berries and fed each bird. 

 When the parent left, the nestlings raised their heads, but did 

 not try to fly after it. At 8 :06 the largest of the young birds 

 stood up, moved its wings and pecked its feathers. Suddenly 

 all of the nestlings stood up and opened their mouths very 

 wide. I heard no sound, but they seemed to know that one of 

 the old birds was approaching. When a parent came to the 

 nest at 8 :08 they pushed one another aside, to get a part of the 

 worm it broug'ht. The old bird left at 8 :09 and for another 

 minute the nestlings remained standing, each giving a chirp. 

 At 8 :13 a parent was back at the nest with a worm and the 

 young stretched their necks for it and each received a piece. 

 The parents fed them at 8 :20 with blue berries, which were 

 regurgitated rapidly. It seemed as if each little bird received 

 two blue berries. Fifteen minutes later the nestlings be- 

 gan to preen their feathers, especially under the wings. At 

 8 :48 a parent returned with food, which it gave so rapidly 

 that I could not see what it was. Blue berries were fed to 

 each bird at 8 :50 and after feeding the young, the parent sat 

 on the side of the nest half a minute. When it left, the little 



