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Bird -Lore 



the young birds during the afternoon, and, wishing to see how it was 

 carried, took up my position on the steps near the nest. In a short time 

 one of the parents ah'ghted in the tree, but discovered me in an instant and 

 gave two low calls, the familiar ' tu-re'e ! ' of doubt and caution, and 

 another of three notes with the accent on the first. At the sound the 

 young birds at once set up their chatter, but the parent left the tree and 

 not until the fourth attempt did she venture to feed them. But I had seen 

 how the food was carried: in the mouth, apparently under the tongue, for 

 the throat just below the bill bulged out almost like a pouch, though it did 

 not seem to interfere with her voice. This was at 12.40 o'clock, and I 

 then returned to the house to watch through the shutter of a convenient 

 window. It was 1.45 when the chattering of the young announced the 

 return of the old bird, and after she had disposed of her mouthful of food 

 she crossed over to the branches near the steps and carefully assured herself 

 that the intruder was no longer there. I use the feminine, believing that 

 the female did the greater part, if not all of the feeding, for, though I never 

 could detect any difference in the coloring of the two birds, one seemed less 

 timid, and only once did I see the two approaching the nest together; if 

 the male had been assisting he surely would have chanced there occa- 

 sionally at about the same time as his mate. 



During the rest of that afternoon the feeding times were as follows: 

 2.02, 2.30, 2.55, 3.25, 4, 4.12, 4.22 (1 wondered if the nest of some un- 

 willing Thrush or Robin had not furnished the last three mouthfuls), S-io, 

 6, 7.20. Probably I missed one feeding between 6 and 7.20, having been 

 away from the window at that time. 



Three days later the young all left the nest, but remained in the neigh- 

 borhood for several days, their voices becoming daily more like the parents', 

 and on June 12 we saw them for the last time. 



