304 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



its partner's alarm, and had gone to reassure it by examining 

 either me or the state of the nest ! I have no doubt that the old 

 birds know me. 



I could not see that the very beautiful striped colouring of the 

 tiny pink-billed young was at all protective, and the brooding old 

 bird, with the young on its back under the wings, was more con- 

 spicuous than when not so occupied, owing to the partial dis- 

 tension of the wings causing the white secondaries to appear 

 in a very noticeable patch. 



