THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
voice and wings in constant demand for 
foodj until I felt sure that the tired father 
must long for night to come. 
The three other nestlings were slower in 
leaving home, but after a wait of two days 
they flew one each day until all were out. 
As fast as they left the nest the father took 
them in charge, and left the cares of 
home to the mother. I often pitied him 
as he flew from branch to branch closely 
pursued by those three hungry nestlings, all 
begging for food at once. Not for one 
moment were they silent or satisfied. With 
wings quivering and mouths wide open, 
they were ever close behind him, and I 
marvelled many times at his untiring patience. 
His stronger wings would easily have carried 
him out of their reach, but he was their willing 
slave. When the fourth baby was out, his 
life became somewhat easier, for the mother 
bird shared his cares. It was at this time 
one afternoon, just as the sun was getting 
too low for best work with the camera, that 
we were able to catch this family one by one 
107 
