58 



I!li;i» STUDIKS WITH A CAMEKA 



caterpillars had been dovoured by this (nie family of 

 birds. 



Not less remarkable than the number of yomig — 

 anil no bo(jk that I have consulted records so large 

 a bi-o()d — was their condition. N<^t only did they all 

 aj)iira,r lusty, but they seemed to be about equally 

 devehjped, the slight difference in strength and size 

 which existed being easily attributable to a differ- 



ence in age, sinne interval doubtless having elapsed 

 between the hatching of the lirst and last egg. 



This fact would have been of interest had the 

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

 for them all to have liad an equal oi)])ortunity to 

 receive food; but where only two thirds of their 

 nnmbfu' could be seen from above at once, and whore 

 a very little neglect would luive resulted fatally, it 

 seems ri!ma,rl<ablc that one or more, failing to i-eceive 

 his share of food, had not betm weakened in conse- 



