Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 5 of 9.djvu/81

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REED WARBLER

parent had finished its task. But it was by no means satisfactory, as the wool caused irritation in the throat, and the young bird consequently made repeated efforts to swallow it. The insects supplied are as a rule crushed in a lump by the bill of a parent, but they are not always dead, and occasionally one will make good its escape when too many have been placed in the throat at one time.

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