The Bay of the Band 
window, so that in leaving it the young would have 
to drop, then turn and fly up to get out. Below was 
the pig. 
As they grew I began to fear that they might try 
their wings before this feat could be accomplished, 
and so fall to the pig below. But Nature, in this case, 
was careful of her pearls. Day after day they clung 
to the nest, even after they might have flown; and 
when they did go, it was with a sure and a long flight 
that carried them out and away to the tops of the 
neighboring trees. 
They left the nest one at a time, and were met in 
the air by their mother, who darting to them, calling 
loudly, and, whirling about them, helped them as 
high and as far away as they could go. 
I wish the simple record of these family affairs 
could be closed without one tragic entry. But that 
can rarely be of any family. Seven days after the 
first brood were a-wing, I found the new eggs in the 
nest. Soon after that the male bird disappeared. 
The second brood has now been out a week, and in 
all this time no sight or sound has been had of the 
father. J 
What happened? Was he killed? Caught by a cat 
172 
