. Bird legend and life . coats of bright blue, andcollars and belts of chestnut. The resemblance was certainlystriking. It was really the first time she had ever seen them inthe light. Of course she had caught occasional glimpses ofthem backing into the tunnel to make room for her home-coming, but as for seeing all of any one of them, she hadnever had the pleasure. As she moved about among them,rattling her approval, such pride as she felt in them only amother could understand. They were but four weeks old—«possibly a few days older—yet they looked almost like grown--up birds—from the front, a
. Bird legend and life . coats of bright blue, andcollars and belts of chestnut. The resemblance was certainlystriking. It was really the first time she had ever seen them inthe light. Of course she had caught occasional glimpses ofthem backing into the tunnel to make room for her home-coming, but as for seeing all of any one of them, she hadnever had the pleasure. As she moved about among them,rattling her approval, such pride as she felt in them only amother could understand. They were but four weeks old—«possibly a few days older—yet they looked almost like grown--up birds—from the front, at least—but when they turnedaround their brevity of tail betrayed their youth. After a few days they were moving around quite com-fortably among the flags and grasses, as comfortably asthough they had always lived there. They went forwardmostly now, for backing around among grasses and thingswasnt altogether pleasant. Besides, now that they had theadvantages of light, they were beginning to like to see where 106. O p g I THE LONE FISHER they were going. In the hole it had been different; there wasnothing to interfere with their feathers there—the few theyhad; there was only one place to go, and it was dark, anyway. They learned to pick up food in most unexpected places—in the water, on the ground, among the willows. Babytoads, out walking for the first time, were among the choicestmorsels which they foimd in these early days on the , together with great, juicy water-beetles, tender frogs,and an occasional fish which their mother brought them, keptthem plump and cheerful. However, life was not all enjoyment. There were dan-gers which made them look back with longing on the comfortand seclusion of their pin-feather youth. Hawks circled overthem; owls swept by on soft wings at night; while water-rats were always near; snakes and weasels moved aboutamong the grasses; and all were looking for just such dain-ties as baby birds. Their wise mother warned them i
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