A LITTLE NURSERY 63 
with downy feathers, those of the wings and tail being 
fully developed and the white eyebrow completely 
formed. 
I had to leave Coonoor on the eleventh day after the 
young birds were hatched, so was unable to witness the 
first lesson in flying, which was given when they were 
fourteen days old. 
What human play or pageant is so entertaining as 
the sight of young birds making their first attempts 
at flight? The excited parents, while giving vent 
to twitters of endearment and encouragement, make 
little sallies into the air by way of example. They 
are saying, in bird language, “Come, my dears, you are 
quite old enough to fly. See how easy it is and how 
delightful.” But the young birds seem disinclined to 
emulate their parents. They look fearfully around 
them. 
Again and again, the old birds exhort them; but the 
young ones still hesitate. They are afraid to trust 
themselves to their feeble little wings, just as a child, 
who cannot swim, fears to plunge, head first, into the 
still water of a swimming-bath. 
Eventually the bravest of the little creatures over- 
comes its fears, and, amid the delighted cries of its 
parents, essays a short flight. It flutters awkwardly, 
but manages to reach a neighbouring branch, upon 
which it alights, trembling with excitement and exulta- 
tion. The battle is nowhalf won. The other nestlings 
follow the good example, and, one by one, they learn 
how delicious is the sensation of sailing on outstretched 
wings through the thin air. 
