THE WILLOW-WRENS OF A LOTHIAN WOOD. 415 



Another record, referring to nest No. 16, when the young 

 were a few days older (six days old) : — 



"June 21st, 10 to 11 a.m.:— 10.1, male fed young; 10.2 

 female fed and then brooded ; 10.5, male fed ; 10.9, male fed 

 10.10, female left nest; 10.11, female fed; 10.12, male fed 

 10.17, female fed; 10.23, male fed; 10.24, female fed; 10.25 

 male fed ; 10.27, male fed ; 10.28, female fed and then brooded 

 10.29, male fed; 10.30, female left nest; 10.30, male fed 

 10.31, female fed and then brooded; 10.32, male fed; 10.37, 

 male fed; 10.37, female left nest; 10.38, both fed ; 10.39, female 

 fed ; 10.40, male fed ; 10.42, female fed ; 10.43, female fed ; 

 10.45, female fed and then brooded ; 10.47, male fed ; 10.58, 

 female left nest." Summarizing: the male fed the young 

 fourteen times in the hour ; the female fed them eleven times, 

 and brooded for four intervals of eight, two, six, and thirteen 

 minutes. 



A very large proportion of the food brought to the young 

 consists of insect-larvse. The quantity destroyed must be 

 enormous ; a rough calculation showed that the young broods 

 in this wood, when nearly fledged, must have consumed a 

 minimum of something like 7500 larvae per day ! It is an 

 interesting fact that after the young have left the nest, larvae 

 form a much smaller proportion of their food, the imagos of 

 Diptera, and apparently certain Heteroptera (Psallus, Phytocoris, 

 &c), becoming the chief resource. The second broods are also 

 fed principally on Diptera, both before and after leaving the 

 nest. This change of food, however, may be merely a local 

 phenomenon, due to increase or decrease in certain forms of 

 food. The fledged young remain in charge of the female — the 

 male takes less interest in them — for some ten days after quitting 

 the nest. The first day or two of this period is spent in the 

 vicinity of the deserted nursery, but as the young gather strength 

 and confidence, they soon begin to wander into new ground, the 

 female accompanying them. Soon they become quite capable 

 of feeding themselves, picking insects off the leaves and spring- 

 ing after those on the wing with the skill of a Flycatcher. 

 Towards the end of the ten days, the old bird ceases altogether 

 to act as food-provider, and becomes merely the sentinel of the 

 family, ever watchful for sign of danger. By the middle of July 



