58 
A NATURALIST ON THE PROWL. 
next day by the pruning knife of the Malee. At length a 
cosy little site was found close by the path which you 
traverse every day, materials were collected, and for many 
days both the birds were busy from early morning building 
their house. Then one happy day they sat, with mutual 
congratulations and endearments, admiring the first-born 
egg. There had never been such an egg. It was the 
darlingest little egg in all the world. For a fortnight 
after this he led a bachelor life, coming often, however, 
to see how she did, and once a day taking her place while 
she went out for a little air and exercise. Then the little 
ones came and family cares began in earnest. It was ora 
et labora , four open mouths and much labour to fill them. 
All the day long spiders and caterpillars had to be caught 
and dropped into those little red funnels, all stretched out 
and quivering with expectancy. Now they are clothed 
and sitting on the edge of the nest, and their parents are 
in a flutter of delight and anxiety. And all this has gone 
on without your getting the least hint of it. The fact is 
that familiarity with danger has taught birds to combine 
circumspection with an air of unconcern which would 
baffle a London detective. It baffles the crow, which is 
sharper than a London detective. The great lizard, who 
