165 



cast to prevent any shadows. At nine o'clock we were back 

 in the grove to see our new acquaintances. Although the 

 young had appeared very 'smart' the day before, we were, 

 nevertheless, surprised to find that thev had all left the nest. 

 Two of them were sitting, side by side, on a small dead 

 limb of a neighboring tree, but the other two were not in 

 sight. 



Fig. 142. Food is pushed down the throats of the young— not 

 simply dropped into their mouths. 



After watching the old birds for quite a while, we at last 

 located the missing pair and returned them to the side of 

 their mates, who had already been carefully focussed in the 

 camera. After having once tested their wings and found 

 that they could fly for short distances, they were not con- 

 tent to sit still, especially just where we wanted them to. 

 Time after time, they made short excursions and had to be 

 brought back. 



The adults did not seem to be greatly alarmed as to the 

 safety of the little ones we were handling so much and, 



