58 



BIUD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 



caterjjillars liad been devoured by this one family of 

 birds. 



Not less remarkable than the number of young — 

 and no book that I have consulted records so large 

 a brood — was their condition. Not only did they all 

 appear lusty, biit they seemed to be about equally 

 developed, the slight difference in strength and size 

 which existed being easily attributable to a ditfer- 



2a. A Chickadue family. 



ence in age, some interval doubtless having elapsed 

 between the hatching of the first and last egg. 



This fact would have been of interest had the 

 birds inhabited an 0]>en nest, or a nest large enough 

 for them all to have had an equal opportunity to 

 receive food; but where only two thirds of their 

 number could be soon from above at once, and where 

 a very little neglect would have resulted fatally, it 

 seems remarka])le that one or more, failing to receive 

 his share of food^ had not been weakened in conse- 



