92 Bird - Lore 



he had shamed the still-hesitating mother bird by his courage, the nestling 

 rested on a dead branch of their favorite white oak, while the timid little 

 mother sat in a plum tree and looked thoughtful. Before long, the nestling 

 came again to the stub with food, and looked about, trying to get up courage 

 to feed the young. He uttered low baby notes, and was rather awkward in 

 his way of approaching the nest, and at last went away without feeding the 

 young ones. The female finally recovered from her timidity enough to con- 

 tinue feeding her family, but it was always an effort for her when I was in 

 sight, though, when she actually reached the nest, she did not seem particularly 

 frightened, and usually lingered to take a critical look at her offspring before 

 leaving them. 



Soon the nestling appeared again, carrying a small green caterpillar, and 

 alighted in the plum tree nearest the nest; and, after a short hesitation, he 

 flew to the stub rather awkwardly, and uttered his baby notes as he turned 

 to look about, then, still with some awkwardness, flew to the nest and fed the 

 young, and waited, looking at them as usual. He had a way of watching me 

 intently, but not with real nervousness, and I fancied that if the old birds 

 had not showed alarm he would have paid me very slight attention. When he 

 came again, he brought a large brown caterpillar, and alighted just above the 

 nest, chattering and watching me, hesitating and leaning over, seeming, as 

 usual, rather uncertain how he should approach the nest. At last he flew down, 

 trying quite a new way, and, coming from below, landed nicely at the nest. 



When the male Bluebird came to the nest, it was usually with a bold swoop, 

 but so quietly that, unless you had your eyes on the spot, you did not know 

 he had arrived until you heard the young ones greeting him. 



On the whole, the three older Bluebirds were very quiet at this stage of 

 the proceedings, only now and then warbling low greetings to each other, 

 or the young ones chattered when they came with food. 



They were a most winning family, but nothing could be imagined more 

 utterly charming than the nestling, with his pretty hesitations, his courage, 

 and his air of responsibility mingled with the evidences of his extreme youth. 

 As time went on, and the young Bluebird continued to feed the young ones 

 regularly, it became evident that his doing so was no mere accident, and for 

 some reason this particular nestling had taken upon itself to assist (as I believe) 

 in bringing up the nestlings of the second brood belonging to his parents, 

 though his actions would be still more remarkable if he should be assisting 

 a strange bird. Unfortunately, it was not possible to determine the sex of 

 this altruistic nestling, for at that age both sexes wear the same plumage. 



On June 22, the nestling was feeding the young and cleaning the nest, just 

 as the old birds did, though not so certain in his way of approaching the nest, 

 and wanting in that clock-like regularity which is so remarkable in old birds 

 when undisturbed; and he announced his arrival at the nest by chattering, 

 instead of coming with the smooth silence of the parents. 



