304
THE ZOOLOGIST.
its partner's alarm, and had gone to reassure it by examining either me or the state of the nest! I have no doubt that the old birds know me.
I could not see that the very beautiful striped colouring of the tiny pink-billed young was at all protective, and the brooding old bird, with the young on its back under the wings, was more conspicuous than when not so occupied, owing to the partial distension of the wings causing the white secondaries to appear in a very noticeable patch.
