266 



Fig. 228, 229. Jack assumed various poses. 



them in all positions, head down, head up, bringing loads 

 of plant lice, spiders, wasps, small grasshoppers and many 

 other kinds of insects. 



Jack devoted so much of his time to singing that his mate 

 irought fully twice as many loads of food as he did. It was 

 Teally amusing to see him sometimes try to sing when he had 

 his beak filled to overflowing with insects; he could get in 

 all the gurgling notes but he had to omit many of those 

 that called for a rapid motion of the bills. 



As in the case with the woodpecker, we happened to visit 

 them on the morning the little wrens were to say goodbye 

 to their home, but the results we obtained were entirely dif- 

 ferent. As soon as I touched the stump it seemed as though 

 I had pulled the trigger of a gun, for the stump imme- 

 diately belched forth little wrens. I clapped my hand over 

 the opening but they poured out through my fingers and 



