The little ones soon became large, and this morning I have seen them take their first flight.

One of them, weaker than the others, was not able to clear the edge of the roof, and fell into the gutter.
I caught him with some difficulty, and placed him again on the tile in front of his house, but the mother has not noticed him.

Once freed from the cares of a family, she has resumed her wandering life among the trees and along the roofs.

In vain I have kept away from my window, to take from her every excuse for fear; in vain the feeble little bird has called to her with plaintive cries; his bad mother has passed by, singing and fluttering with a thousand airs and graces.

Once only the father came near; he looked at his offspring with contempt, and then disappeared, never to return! I crumbled some bread before the little orphan, but he did not know how to peck it with his bill.