BITS ABOUT BIRDS AND BEES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 22, 3 June 1893, Page 527

BITS ABOUT BIRDS AND BEES.

BY J. MACDONALD OXLEY. Unless we take the trouble to study closely for ourselves the ways and manners of the furred and feathered creatures that help so much to make our world attractive and interesting, we are apt to have the idea that everything * comes natural ’ to them—that they do not have to learn things in the laborious way we have. It seems that a pretty little wren built a nest for herself on a farm in such a position that the occupants of the house could watch what was going on without disturbing the proceedings. When her downy brood had arrived at the proper age, they did not take to singing of their own accord, so she set about teaching them. Placing herself in front of them, as any other musicteacher would do, she sang her whole song slowly and distinctly. One of the little fellows immediately attempted to imitate her, but after getting out a few notes, its voice broke, and it lost the tune. The little mother thereupon commenced where the learner had failed, and went very carefully through the remainder. The young one tried again, beginning where it had left off, and continuing as long as it could, and when the notes were once more lost, the mother patiently took up the tune and finished it. Then the other resumed where it had broken down, and persevered, until in its turn it reached the end. This accomplished, the mother sang over the whole series of notes from the start with great precision, her pupil following her carefully, and so they kept it up until the little thing had the whole song by heart. The same course was followed with the other occupants of the nest until each of them had become a perfect songster, and the proud mother's task was finished.

Now that little incident shows clsarly how patient and persevering even a bird can be, and the same point is illustrated by what another observer saw on the sea-shore one summer afternoon. It was a lovely day, and the tide was gently making its way up the beach, sending glistening wavelets on ahead that advanced and retired with musical murmurings. Presently a party of callow ducklings came waddling soberly into sight. They were evidently very young, but they had a mind for a swim, and made no doubt of being able to enjoy it on a body of water so large and tempting as the Atlantic Ocean. With all the dignity of ducks this party went down the beach. They were in no haste. The whole afternoon was before them, the sun was warm, they had iust had dinner, and they were ready to enjoy themselves. Just as they

reached the water, a gentle wave ran in, lifted the pretty yellow birdlings off their feet, carried them all far up the sand, and then as suddenly retreated, leaving them there high and dry, while it rejoined the sea. The ducklings, not a whit disconcerted by this shabby joke of old Neptune, gathered themselves together, and again started down the beach in as good order as before. Again the saucy wavelet came up to meet them, and again they were carefully set down far up on the shore. Were they discouraged by this or did they go off in a hull' at the ocean’s aggravating behaviour ? Not a bit of it 1 They wanted a swim, and a swim they would have. So once more they made the attempt, just as dignified, just as amiable, just as earnest about it, as if they had not hitherto been provokingly thwarted. Of course they met the same fate, but as long as the observer had time to watch them, this amusing game went on—the wavelets carrying the ducklings back, and the ducklings renewing the charge patiently and persistently during the long lovely afternoon. What a lesson may be learned from them, if we will only take it! An even more curious performance, and one that we would like to have the opinion of Sir John Lubbock upon, was witnessed near Falkirk in Scotland on a Sunday morning not long ago While walking near a bee hive, a gentleman observed two bees coming out bearing between them the body of a dead comrade, with which they flew a distance of about ten yards. He followed them closely, and noted the care with which they selected a convenient hole at the side of the gravel-wall, the tenderness with which they committed the body, head down-wards, to the earth, and the solicitude with which they put over it two little stones, apparently •in memoriam.’ Their task ended, they buzzed about the tiny grave for a minute, as if reluctant to leave, and then flew back to the hive to report what they had done. Have any of my readers met with similar experiences to these 1 There is much yet to be learned about both birds and bees.