NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
the negative, like dozens of others, for some 
mysterious reason was a blank. Before we 
could get another they had flown. In spite 
of our close watching, and possibly because 
of it, this important first lesson in flying 
took place during our absence from the 
wood ; but we saw them soon after snuggled 
up together, every mouth open for food. 
This Mr. and Mrs. ‘^Jim” took turns in 
supplying until the young were several days 
out of the nest, and then their training be- 
gan. So far as I am able to judge of bird 
education, they were much more easily 
taught than young robins. 
While we did not see the very first flight, 
we did witness the preliminaries for several 
days beforehand. These lessons lacked the 
fuss and coaxing of the robins. The young 
crows hopped out on the nest limb and 
flapped their wings in exercise many times 
before the final day came. At such times 
‘‘Jim,” on the topmost twig of the tree, 
watched them with pardonable pride. He 
also watched us, and talked in a crow under- 
