114 WILD LIFE IN THE TREE TOPS 



I had last seen them, for now the brown feathers of maturity were akeady 

 replacing the down of youth, while they spent the major portion of their time 

 in standing upright on the nest, and preening and arranging their growing 

 feathers. As before, they were fed at mid-day, but this time received a further 

 supply of food at one o'clock, and yet more at about three. 



As they were finishing their mid-day rations, the male settled on the nest, 

 perhaps to see how they were getting on — he did not stay long, however, for a 

 slight noise from the observation post caused him to dash off instantly, although 

 his mate maintained her usual unconcern. In fact, by this time the female had 

 become so accustomed to the observation post and the noises which proceeded 

 from it, that I found it difficult to scare her away when I wanted to make my 

 exit, or when I wished to secure moving pictures of her leaving the nest. I 

 tried pulling the branches at the end of the rope right up to my hiding-place ; 

 then I clapped my hands and even shouted, without causing her the least un- 

 easiness. Once I dropped my hat to see if I could induce her to leave — but 

 again without result. 



When at last I heard my companion's whistle from the footpath amongst 

 the trees, I decided that this should be my opportunity for getting the pictures 

 as she went off at his approach. So as he drew nearer I commenced to turn the 

 handle, and shouted to him to ' put her off.' For some time she remained 

 standing motionless on the side of the nest, and not until my friend had violently 

 shaken a small elder bush did she at last leave. 



A week later, that is July 7, 1 watched the yoimg hawks preparing to leave, 

 and actually leaving, the nest. They were now pretty well covered by their 

 brownish feathers, although a good deal of down was still adhering to their 

 bodies. They were, strangely enough, all males. 



They seemed anxious to attempt a trial ffight, but as yet seemed to lack 

 confidence, for every now and then one of them would stand on the extreme 

 edge of the nest, lean forward and raise his wings above his back, as though 

 about to take the plunge, and then, thinking better of it, would turn round and 

 spend some seconds in jumping into the air, and flapping wildly with his wings 

 as though giving vent to his pent-up feelings. 



At last, however, one of them took the fatal leap, and flew with extraordi- 

 nary ease to a branch some 10 or 12 feet from the nest, where he sat preening 

 himself more intently than ever. 



And soon another followed him, and then another ; the one remaining 

 youngster contenting himself by continually repeating the upward jumping 

 and wing-flapping exercise. Some time later the old female returned to the 

 nest with a headless starling in her talons. I am inclined to think that she had 

 caught this herself ; for it was bigger than the mate's usual prey ; also, she 

 had not been with the young for some hours ; and I did not hear the caU of the 

 male before she appeared on the nest. 



