Illustrations xiii 



FACING 

 PAGE 



Young Crows just after hatching . . ... 72 



Nest full of young Crows, about half-grown ... 72 



Jack Crow's perch in the apple tree . 72 



"Granny" — a portrait of a half-grown Barn Owl 81 



Full-grown young Barn Owls at the age of eight weeks . 85 



Nest and eggs of the Barn Owl . . 85 



Downy young Barn Owls about three weeks old . . 85 



A study in sentiment . . 88 



Barn Owl in full flight 



Half-grown Barn Owls, about six weeks old 



Young Barn Owl in fighting attitude 



Wide awake and on the tip-toe of expectancy . . 92 



Mother Wren at the nest hole . . .96 



A young Vigors Wren just after leaving nest in the dead alder ,96 



Feeding young Wrens 96 



The parents lit wherever they found the children 105 



Bush-tit feeding young on top of cap . 105 



Awaiting their turns — rather impatiently . 105 



Bush-tit at door of long hanging nest . 108 

 Young Bush-tits beside long pendent nest .108 



Male Bush-tit with green cutworm for young . 108 



Jimmy ... ' . . 116 



Jimmy eating from the hand of his mistress . . . 1 16 

 Pair of young Shrikes or Butcher-birds . . . .116 



He often perched in the pear tree 116 



