228 
The Nesting of the Blue Sngarhird. 
combing the baby's one hair, just like a human mother. 
From the very first she would fly to me for something for 
the baby," but I fear that professional duties prevented me 
doing all I could wish. On the 14th the cock bird, who had 
not been looking well, died under the curse, and there was 
our hapless babe, fatherless, with only its mother to warm 
and feed it, and she, poor dear, blind in one eye. I gave 
her gentles, which she proceeded to chew up, and would 
swallow before she gave them to Ikm- chick, l>ut here again I 
believe her blind eye was a handicap, for I don't think she 
could always find its wee mouth. If only the chick could 
have lived on love there would be a medal waiting for me, 
and for the little Sugar -bird. Nature's greatest and most 
precious gift. I studied the home -life of my little friend far 
more intimately than I have ever studied the home life of 
a mere human, and I know all I say is true. On Monday 
morning she tlew out to me— I was later than usual as I had 
been detained. I gave her the asked-for gentle and while 
she chewed it up I went to look at the baby, but although 
it was warm no tiny head was uplifted to receive the profTered 
tit-bit. and my little friend returned to the nest to find and 
realise that love's labour was indeed all lost. Her fondest 
hopes were dashed to the ground, and in place of a joyou.s 
little twitter she gave a plaintive " tweet," as if to call 
back the spirit from the great unknown. I took the littlo 
chick out to look at — still quite warm. fjike all soft- 
biils, it had no apparent crop, but looked fairly well nour- 
ished, and had certainly grown. Then impelled by a touch 
of nature that makes all the world kin, I replaced it in the 
nest. Even then my little Sugarbird friend trusted me and 
knew I would not harm her little one, for she flew into my 
hand and looked up to me for help. But belp was not in my 
power, and I turned away sadly and sorrowfully to think it 
over. Why must these things be? When I returned later 
the mother had taken her chick away. 1 like to think she 
laid ii to rest, although my reason tells me that it is rubbish. 
And how alvout my little Sugarl)ii'd? She still lives and makes 
me happy and I would not part with her for ten golden 
sovereigns, albeit she is blind in one eye. 
But what is the lesson we are to learn or rather 
