Mr. Reginald Phillipps,



38



On a later occasion, I found him doing all he could to induce the

young bird to swallow a mealworm carried in his bill, but he

signally failed ; I watched him for about half-a-minute, when he

swallowed the mealworm himself. After a pause, he regurgitated

and fed successfully. On another occasion the female took up a

small cockroach, maudibulated and swallowed it. She then

flew to a piece of bare ground, a wet mound, and pecked about,

the only food visible being a few stray Indian millet seeds. Then

she hopped about the boughs, slowly getting nearer to the nest,

as if to allow time for digestive work of some sort before she

finally fed the young bird, the regurgitating movements being

very apparent.


At first the male seemed to wish to monopolize the

youngster; and when the female came to feed she would peck

him without stint, though not spitefully, as if to teach him how

to act. After they had got into good working order, the following

was the mode of procedure. One parent, ready to feed, would

approach the nest with a whispered twitter; the sitting-bird

would come off; the new comer, perched at first on the edge of

the nest but, later, on one of the supporting twigs (was this

change just a matter of intuitive instinct, or the result of thought

set up by appreliensiveuess of weakness in the upholding bands?)

would feed the young one, and then would suddenly “ flop ” on

to the nest with a single movement. In due time the other bird

would return, and the same routine would be followed. I think

I may say that, although so assiduous in his attentions, the male

was rather more inclined to be rough and off-hand, the female

being tender and more gentle ; and she acted the part of nurse

with great care.


I have referred to the temporary desertion of the young

bird by the parents on an occasion when there was no cause for

fear. It was on that day that I first heard the alarm rattle,

which was sounded very briskly indeed by the male. Just a

week later, as I was dressing, I again heard him sounding an

alarm. I peeped out of the window, not a cat was to be seen,

and all looked quiet. But the old boy was rattling away with

might and main, the Blue Wren was uttering his little alarm-

cry, and many birds were clattering. I hurried down, rushed



