that when he walks, he waddles about in a very awkward way.

8. Birds that swim have webs between their toes, with which they push themselves along. The duck, the goose, the swan, and the sea-gull can all swim.

9. The ostrich, which is the largest bird, cannot fly; but he can run very very fast. When men hunt him he can run as fast as a race-horse.

1. DID you ever see the nest

Of robin or of linnet,

When the little downy birds
Are lying snugly in it,

2. Opening wide their yellow mouths
For something nice to eat?
Snail or slug, or worm or grub,
To them are dainty meat.

3. Hops mother bird from spray to spray,
And peeps with knowing eye
Into all the folded leaves,
Where worms or grubs do lie.

grass,

4. She has searched among the
And flown from tree to tree
Catching gnats and flies to feed
Her little family.

5. I have heard the robins chirp,

And seen them shake their wings; They are pleased to see her come,

And pleased with what she brings.

6. But I never saw them look
In a hurry for their food.
Somebody, at dinner-time,
Is seldom quite so good.

XLIV. THE LITTLE BIRDS.

brood
feath'ers

fa'ther

sun'ny

1. BIRDS in a nest,

Nest upon a tree ;

Under mother's breast,

Warm as warm can be!

2. Mother keeps you warm,
Father brings you food,

Safe within your nest,
Happy little brood!

3. Mind

you do not fall

From your nest on high;
You've no feathers yet,
So you cannot fly.

4. When your feathers grow,
On some sunny day
You shall learn to fly;
Chirp, chirp away.

fell asleep, and her mother put it down on a pillow, and looked over the side of the vessel at some sea-birds.

2. All at once a monkey that was on the ship took the baby in his arms, and climbed with it to the top of the mast.

3. The poor mother nearly fainted to see her little one in such danger, and even the sailors became pale with fear. No one knew what to do. It was of no use trying to catch the monkey, for he might drop the baby in trying to get away.

4. There was the monkey at the mast-head, dandling and kissing the baby, just as he had seen its mother do. They brought cakes and fruit; they tried to coax it to come down. But he would not heed them.

5. At last the captain thought he would try another plan. So he told the mother and all who were on the deck to go below. Then he hid himself on deck, and waited to see what the monkey would do.

6. The rascal, on seeing the deck clear, came down with the baby in his arms, and put it back where he had found it. O, how glad was the mother to get her baby again!