Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 3 of 9.djvu/53

 into the bushes, then approaches from the opposite direction, disappears again, and finally swallows the food she is carrying. After a short time she again returns, approaches the nest more closely, especially if the male is in front and more or less leading her, but cannot finally make up her mind. This hesitation lasts for some time, and while it lasts she often reaches the nest, settles on the side of it, but even then her courage fails her and again she disappears. In time she becomes callous and feeds naturally, but is always more careful than the male to conceal her approach. That her excitement is considerable is shown by the way she sometimes quivers her wings in the same manner as just previous to coition. The length of time necessary for the parents to overcome their alarm at your presence depends very much on their first impression. If, that is to say, they suddenly return and find you in full view, their courage is more taxed than if you are partially concealed and very quiet.

Both parents are careful after bringing a supply of food to wait for the fæces to be ejected, and when this is done they carry them away and drop them some distance from the nest, or swallow them. I have seen a male still carrying the fæces away when the young had left the nest and were sitting amongst the bushes.

The male frequently sings while his bill is full of larvæ.

The young grow very rapidly. About the fifth day they begin to use, although very quietly, the call-note of the species. They now also preen their feathers and peck at the insects on their bodies after the manner of the adults. About the sixth day they stretch themselves and flap their wings continually. Under ordinary conditions the young remain in the nest until about the ninth day, but as early as the seventh day I have removed a young one for experimental purposes some distance from the nest, and upon my doing so the parents made a considerable commotion and the remaining young immediately left. This commotion attracted, among birds of other species, another male Blackcap; he