116 
BIRD LIFE IN WASHINGTON 
retreated and sat down to watch. Every 
five or ten minutes, one parent or the 
other came with food. Up and down the 
tree trunk, over and under the limbs, they 
hunted, walking upon the under side of 
the limb as easily as upon the top. 
They were tremendous little workers— 
they had to be in order to bring up their 
family. By far the greater part of the 
food birds bring to their nests is insects. 
Some of them, indeed, ask a part of our 
berries and cherries. Can we justly deny 
them! Let those who think so, come out 
into the world of work and song in the 
spring time and see. 
