Page:Bird-lore Vol 03.djvu/67

52 Bird - Lore The nest, eij^htecn feet or thereabouts from the ground, was visible from our bed; and one morning on first awakening we saw with a thrill the father and mother gravely bending over five wide mouths, plainly to be seen at that distance. The birds had all hatched out within twenty-four hours. Then began the process of filling up those mouths, always opening and stretching to their widest extent, as if afraid of missing something. This was impos- sible, however, as their parents forcibly and effectually stuffed each morsel down their throats, seemingly into their very stomachs. The father, it might be, would arrive with a long worm, which he and the mother then swallowed by bits, commencing at either end and working toward A BI.IK lAMII.V the middle, where it would break, leaving each parent w ith half the worm. Then, after a pause during which the five mouths quivered with suspense, the softened food was given up to the babies by a sort of regurgitation, and away went the father after more. While the birds were incubating the eggs only the head anil tail were visible aboe the rim of the nest, but after hatching they sat or stood so much higher and puffed out their feathers to such an e.xtent that they appeared twice their former size. The Jays were not at all shy, but on the contrary were very valiant and determined in standing by their home. Soon after the eggs were laid, the house -painters began work opposite the nest, and many sharp pecks they received on their ears and backs. People inside the house could be endured, but people outside were a little too much, and the birds challenged each man to fight it out.