PROGNE. 337 



into the nest, so as to make room for another, but he would not 

 be pushed. They fed him more until, filled to repletion, he 

 rejected what they brought .; but still, regardless of the protest of 

 his hungry brethren, he blocked the passage, filled with wonder 

 at the new outlook of life. He remained thus for nearly two 

 hours, when a change of mind suddenly came over him, tuid, 

 through no forcible persuasion, he suddenly backed into the hole. 

 His place was taken at once by another, who relinquished to the 

 third, only after taking his fill of the outdoor surroundings. The 

 third remained to be fed for the space of ten minutes or so, and 

 before it could do more than look around, was violently replaced 

 by the first claimant for the position, who squeezed into the 

 opening and pushed his companion down into the nest. He held 

 the position most of the day, except when the others, driven to des- 

 peration by hunger succeeded in ousting him for a few moments. 



"The performance was repeated daily for several days, a 

 youngster always being at the entrance. The strongest spent 

 most of his time there. His parents tried every means in their 

 power to inveigle him forth, but for a long time without avail. 

 They brought him nice large dragon-flies, which were held tanta- 

 lizingly a few inches away ; they called to him to follow them as 

 they moved farther and farther along the perch ; and finally, 

 clinging to the edge of the hole, they fluttered to the perch to 

 show^ how easy it was. As his courage increased he gradually 

 leaned farther out of the door to follow their movements or to make 

 an attempt at securing the morsels they brought. One day — the 

 sixth — he leaned too far and lost his balance. With an effort he 

 managed to clutch the stick and with a mighty flutter of wings 

 found himself safe and sound on the out-hanging perch. At first 

 he scarcely dared to breathe for every little movement upset his 

 equilibrium, and it was only by hard fluttering that he could 

 regain liis balance. He commenced uncertainly, after the first 

 fright wore off, to preen bis feathers of the small flakes of down 

 still adhering and to stretch his wings. The mother sat close b^-, 

 chirping to give him confidence, or made short flights to instruct 

 in the first rudiments. The lather busily fed the others, for the 

 mother had no time to spare. 



"Soon the little Martiji commenced to take interest in his sur- 

 roundings and looked about witii much craning of neck, glancing 



VOL. 11. Z 



