moment later, up the narrow path by the side of 

 which they were sleeping trotted the fox. Upon 

 seeing me he paused, and so close to them that 

 their slightest stir would have been caught by 

 his keen, quick ears. 



So throughout the winter and far into the 

 spring they live together, an intimate, happy 

 family— more intimate and happier, perhaps, 

 than many human families. For see what a 

 number of children there are ! It is significant, 

 is it not, that only large bird families apparently 

 know the joy of family life? 



Even here among the quail there may be no 

 real love and friendship, no affection, no sharing 

 among the children. But there must be true 

 mother-love in the breast of such a mother bird 

 as this. Then why not love in the children? 



Interpret it as we please, with or without sen- 

 timent, we cannot deny the existence of this 

 family life among the birds. 



The need of guidance, of food and protection, 

 may explain it in the case of the migrating 

 geese ; but this is not enough for the quail and 

 the chickadee families. 



[260] 



