_The Birds and Their Families._
Now that the nest in the horse chestnut tree was completed, Mr. Thrush
sat near by waiting to hear the glad news that one egg had come. So the
next time Mrs. Thrush went away from the nest for her bath the children
peeped into the nest and there saw one speckled egg! The next day
another was there, and the next day still another.
Mr. Thrush was a most interesting father for the children to observe,
for he fought off any bird who ventured too near Mrs. Thrush’s nest. For
birds there are who are too lazy to build their own nests, and boldly
take possession of any nest they can. Father Thrush knowing this, was
ever on the defensive and ready to fight to protect his “wife” and
little ones. He watched when she went for food—and when at sundown she
went to the stream to bathe, he also watched.
The Thrushes seemed to do most of their love-making at sundown in song.
The song consists of four notes, which the children interpreted as
saying, “Do you love me?” And the answer came in three notes, “I love
you.”
If singing meant happiness, Father Thrush was certainly very happy these
days. For he seemed to sing more than any of the other birds, except,
perhaps, Father Song-Sparrow, who, too, was overjoyed at the arrival of
four youngsters.
Mother Thrush never answered Father Thrush’s musical song while she was
waiting for the eggs to hatch—she was very still then always—but he must
have taken her love for granted, for he sang on just the same.
One day some time later when the children took their usual place under
the tree, the air was rent with shrieks and cries from both birds, who
flew at them and scolded so shrilly that the children decided it was
best to go away, but on watching from a distance they saw Mrs. Thrush
bring food in her mouth, and three tiny heads, with open bills, stretch
themselves above the nest. They knew now why Mr. and Mrs. Thrush
objected to their going so near the nest that day. The children were so
excited that it was difficult to keep them from going to the nest to
see. But when they were reminded of the great care Mr. and Mrs. Thrush
had given the eggs, so that they might hatch into little birds, and were
told that it would trouble them greatly and excite them to have any one
touch the nest, they decided to wait for a better opportunity.
It did not come for several days, for Mr. Thrush was a most watchful
father. But these Thrush youngsters were developing so fast and had such
husky appetites it took both Mr. and Mrs. Thrush busy to keep them fed.
So when the parents were off on their hunt for food the children
carefully looked into the nest. There they were, three featherless,
fearless, funny things, with only knowledge enough to stretch their
necks for food.
The day that Mrs. Thrush first hurriedly told Mr. Thrush that one
scrawny “imp” had come out of its shell, he seemed overjoyed, for he
sang all day long—even into the night. This was, perhaps, the most vivid
example of a father’s joy the children saw. But another case came to
their notice of a father bird’s devotion—and that was when Mrs. Sparrow
deserted her little ones.
There was an old apple tree at the back of the house, and in the trunk
of this tree Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow had made a home for their children.
One morning there was a call of distress from Mr. Sparrow. The children
watched him as he flew from tree to tree, and limb to limb,
calling—calling in the most plaintive tones. All day he called until the
sun went down behind the Palisades, but no mother returned to her
children. It was quite decided that Mrs. Sparrow was hurt, or even
killed, and great was the excitement over this terrible possibility.
After two days of calling and calling Mrs. Sparrow returned—but not
alone. The guilty partner of her flight came along, too, and Father
Sparrow promptly chased him away, but every time Father Sparrow flew at
him and chased him off, Mrs. Sparrow would fly away with him. Then poor
Father Sparrow would call and coax and tease and plead with her to
return, and she would return just long enough to see the little
fledglings, and off she would go with the other sparrow. Each day she
returned to see the little ones and trouble the poor father, who was
trying so hard to provide for the motherless family.
The other birds seemed most sympathetic, and on one occasion Mr. Robin
watched the sparrow house while Mr. Sparrow chased the wooer of his
wife. This was the last time, for Mrs. Sparrow never again returned to
her family.
No other birds ever went near that tree wherein the lone “widower”
dwelled. He seemed greatly respected by the other birds. He taught his
little ones to fly and where to find the choicest food in Bobby’s
garden. The children insisted on caging the cats for a few weeks so that
Father Sparrow would not have this extra burden on him. They were of one
decided opinion that father love and devotion saved that family, and all
agreed that it was a most important factor in bringing up a family.
This was a most unusual case, and the boys were made to realize its
unusualness, for it is _very seldom_ that a mother ever deserts her
young.
It was funny to watch the sentiments of these small tots. As soon as
Mrs. Sparrow returned for her short intervals the children got bread and
worms and all kinds of tempting food in hopes that she would remain with
her family. They were willing like Father Sparrow to forgive her, but as
soon as she made her preparations to go away, instinctively they picked
up stones to throw at her, so intense was their interest, and it is
feared that had not a grown-up been with them something would have
happened, for the air was full of whispers, and words like bean
shooters, air rifles, etc., were heard occasionally.
However, their attention was diverted to Miss Oriole, who had two young
Oriole attendants. Each asked for her love—and she would not decide. How
she teased them both, and how desperately she flirted. Of course, the
lovers despised each other, but how wonderfully they told her in song of
their great love for her, each trying to outdo the other.
When no one was about she must have made up her mind to accept one, and
it was noticed it was he with the sweetest voice rather than the one
with beautiful plumage who won her. He was a most daring and fearless
lover and took beautiful care of her while they were waiting for the
eggs to hatch.
The summer was one lovely long day watching the birds. As the cold
weather came on, the birds became fewer—new and strange birds on their
way to the South came for food and flew away again.
There was no more interesting and charming lesson of paternal love to be
learned than among the birds, and it was noticed that no longer was the
mother of sole interest, but the father’s habits and life became of
interest. The children received their lesson of father love, through the
birds.
Where the father flowers, fish and frogs gave themselves no concern over
the young, here was a higher creature, whose love of offspring was not
purely physical, but represented something higher in his makeup. This
was not only the desire to procreate, but to protect and care for his
offspring after their creation.
This is perhaps one of the best times to begin to talk to the child of
its own body, if one has not done so before.
The study of the birds gives the boy particularly a beautiful impression
of the father’s part in life, so that it is quite natural for him to
think of himself in this relation too.
Teach the child that there is no shame in nature. Mothers should never
say “shame on you” when a child exposes any part of its body.
Always allow perfect freedom in his acts and affections. Teach him that
love and affection are beautiful, and let him follow his impulses in
these. Never make children kiss people for “form’s” sake, either aunts
or uncles or any others; let them alone in this for their instincts are
keener, often, than ours.
It was not until all the familiar birds had gone that their thoughts
turned to the higher stage, the mammals.