268 POULTRY AND WILD BIRDS 
to be well versed in the principles and practice of feeding 
babies, for they know that they must not give them starchy 
foods; and so, even if the parents are seed-eaters, we may 
see them gathering insects for their nestlings, and if these are 
too large, tearing them to pieces, before putting them into 
THEIR First AFTERNOON OUT 
Young bluebirds. 
their little mouths. Doves even bring up softened food from 
their crops and feed it to their young. The labor which the 
care of the young entails will be appreciated if the student 
observes a nest of fledglings for a day and keeps count of 
the number of visits made by the parents with food. 
