A Lesson in Self-Help
Young birds (and for the matter of that, young mice, rats, rabbits and the rest) have multiplied the population beyond calculation. There are hundreds of thousands more living creatures (not counting insects and such small fry) than there were six weeks ago. The young birds are particularly obvious, especially to the eyes of those who have the advantage of a lawn in front of the windows. As we watch them, we come to see how very serious a thing education is even among the creatures that are not usually supposed to be endowed with reason. A starling flies down to the lawn with one youngster. The mother finds a worm, breaks it in halves and tries hard to make the child pick it up or take it from her beak. The pupil, being lazy, waits for the morsel to be delivered into its open mouth. When this waiting attitude persists, the parent swallows the morsel herself. The temptation is repeated. This time the young bird takes the initiative, and whenever this desirable consummation is reached, the mother at once rewards her child by putting a second morsel into its mouth. This lesson has been watched again and again on a particular lawn ; and it is perhaps this need for private tuition of individuals that gives the reason why so very often only one young bird is seen with the parent. The wagtail is one of the birds that usually teach the young one at a time.
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