Chapter V. The Birds and Their Families.

Now that the nest in the horse chestnut¹ 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 defensive² 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.”

34If 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 shrieks³ and cries from both birds, who flew at them and scolded so shrilly⁴ that the children decided⁵ 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. 35Thrush was a most watchful⁶ 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 deserted⁷ 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 distress⁸ from Mr. Sparrow. The children watched him as he flew from tree to tree, and limb to limb, calling—calling in the most plaintive⁹ 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 36the 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 promptly¹¹ 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 coax¹² 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. Robin¹³ 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 lone¹⁰ “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 37family, 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 intervals¹⁴ the children got bread and worms and all kinds of tempting¹⁵ 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, instinctively¹⁶ 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 desperately¹⁷ she flirted¹⁸. 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 38noticed 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 paternal¹⁹ 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 purely²⁰ physical, but represented something higher in his makeup²¹. 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 39part 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.

1 chestnut   

n.栗树，栗子

参考例句：

• We have a chestnut tree in the bottom of our garden.我们的花园尽头有一棵栗树。
• In summer we had tea outdoors,under the chestnut tree.夏天我们在室外栗树下喝茶。

2 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

3 shrieks   

n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• shrieks of fiendish laughter 恶魔般的尖笑声
• For years, from newspapers, broadcasts, the stages and at meetings, we had heard nothing but grandiloquent rhetoric delivered with shouts and shrieks that deafened the ears. 多少年来， 报纸上， 广播里， 舞台上， 会场上的声嘶力竭，装腔做态的高调搞得我们震耳欲聋。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 shrilly   

尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的

参考例句：

• The librarian threw back his head and laughed shrilly. 图书管理员把头往后面一仰，尖着嗓子哈哈大笑。
• He half rose in his seat, whistling shrilly between his teeth, waving his hand. 他从车座上半欠起身子，低声打了一个尖锐的唿哨，一面挥挥手。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。

7 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

8 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

9 plaintive   

adj.可怜的，伤心的

参考例句：

• Her voice was small and plaintive.她的声音微弱而哀伤。
• Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里，一位老太太伤心地哭起来。

10 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

11 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

12 coax   

v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取

参考例句：

• I had to coax the information out of him.我得用好话套出他掌握的情况。
• He tried to coax the secret from me.他试图哄骗我说出秘方。

13 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

14 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

15 tempting   

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

• It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
• It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

16 instinctively   

adv.本能地

参考例句：

• As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近，她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

18 flirted   

v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She flirted her fan. 她急速挥动着扇子。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• During his four months in Egypt he flirted with religious emotions. 在埃及逗留的这四个月期间，他又玩弄起宗教情绪来了。 来自辞典例句

19 paternal   

adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的

参考例句：

• I was brought up by my paternal aunt.我是姑姑扶养大的。
• My father wrote me a letter full of his paternal love for me.我父亲给我写了一封充满父爱的信。

20 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

21 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？