Chapter XIII: Introduction (12)

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Its beauty, sprightliness, sociability, and
song, unite in rendering the blue-breast delightful. It runs very
swiftly, raises its tail with a jerk, and extends it like a fan,
keeping it and the wings in perpetual motion, uttering the cry of
"_fide, fide_" and "_tac, tac_." It is unfortunate that it gradually
loses the fine blue on the breast in successive moultings, when
confined to the house, and becomes at length of a whitish grey. In a
few days it will become tame enough to eat meal-worms from the hand,
and it will not be long before it comes for them when called by the
voice or whistle. Its song is very agreeable; it sounds like two
voices at once; one deep, resembling the gentle humming of a violin
string, the other the soft sound of a flute.

When at liberty in the room it always seeks the sunshine, and sleeps
on its belly. Its notes very much resemble those of the common
wagtail, but much improved by a violin-like hum.

THE COMMON WAGTAIL.

Motacilla alba, LINNÆUS; La Lavandière, BUFFON; Die weisse
Bachstelze, BECHSTEIN.

This species, well known throughout the old world, is seven inches in length, of which the tail measures three and a half. The beak, five lines long, is black, and very pointed; the iris is dark; the shanks, an inch in height, are slender, and black; the upper part of the head, as far as the nape, is black, but the rest of the upper part of the body, the sides of the breast, and lesser wing-coverts, are bluish ash grey; the forehead, cheeks, and sides of the neck are white as snow; the throat, as far as the middle of the breast, is black.

The female is without the white forehead and cheeks, the black top to the head being somewhat smaller. Some females have been found with very little of the black cap, and even without it, the head then being of the same colour as the back.

The young ones, which are seen in large flocks with the yellow wagtail around herds of cattle, are so different before the first moulting, that they have been considered a distinct species, under the name of the grey wagtail (_Motacilla cinerea_). In fact, the whole of the upper part of the body is grey, more or less pale; the throat and belly dusky white; the breast is generally crossed by a band, sometimes entire, sometimes broken, of a grey or brownish colour, and the quill-feathers are whitish on the outer edge.

It is not surprising to find varieties amongst birds so numerous. Some are quite white, others variegated, or speckled with white.

HABITATION.--When wild it is found equally near houses, in the fields
and mountains, and in every place where insects and worms are in
plenty. It is in Germany a bird of passage, which assembles in autumn
on the tiles, like the swallow, to prepare for its departure in the
first fortnight of October[96]. It returns towards the end of
February or beginning of March, though the weather be not mild; it
may come thus early without danger, as it does not fear to approach
houses, on the walls of which it finds flies that the spring sun has
drawn from their retreat; and in the streams it also finds abundance
of aquatic insects.

In the house it may be kept in a cage, or allowed to range; but in
either case it is necessary to scatter plenty of sand about, as it is
a very dirty little bird.

FOOD.--When wild, it feeds on gnats, water-spiders, aquatic insects,
flies, and insects that fasten on cattle, round which it often roams.
It also follows the ploughman to feed on the insects turned up by the
plough.

In the house nothing tames it so soon as ants' eggs, meal-worms,
flies, and other insects. By degrees it acquires a taste for other
food. In the cage it must be fed in the same manner as the
nightingale.

BREEDING.--This species breeds two or three times in the course of the
season. Its nest, placed in a hole, in a crevice between stones, or
even under a tile, is carelessly formed of moss, small roots, hay, or
something of the kind, and lined with hair and wool. It lays five or
six eggs, of a bluish white, spotted with black. The young ones
brought up from the nest become so tame, that they will go and return
like a pigeon, build in the room, and seek for food for their little
ones in the fields.

DISEASES.--Though very subject to diarrhoea, this and the two
following species may be preserved in a room five or six years.

MODE OF TAKING.--If there is snow on the ground on their return in
March, it is only necessary to clear a place (below the window will
do), and scatter meal-worms amongst limed twigs, or place these on
stones or wood where the birds assemble, or even fasten a meal-worm
to a limed twig, loosely stuck in the earth, and you may soon catch a
wagtail.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Its handsome plumage, its sprightliness, its
quick and elegant motions, please one as much as its pretty song,
which, without being striking, is varied, and continues the whole
year, except during moulting. I always keep a wagtail amongst my
birds, and when the blackcap, the blue-breast, the lark, and the
linnet sing, it seems to form a counter-tenor.

THE GREY WAGTAIL.

Motacilla Boarula, LINNÆUS; La Bergeronette, BUFFON; Die graue
Bachstelze, BECHSTEIN.

This beautiful species, like the preceding, is seven inches in length, of which the tail alone measures four. The beak is black; the iris brown; the legs, nine lines high, dark flesh-coloured; the upper part of the body, including the lesser wing-coverts, dark ash-grey; the head slightly tinted with olive, and the rump a fine yellow green; there is a white streak above the eyes, and another, beginning at the inferior base of the beak, descends the sides of the neck, whilst a black streak extends from the superior base as far as the eyes; the chin and throat are black, but the breast and under part of the body are of the finest yellow.

The throat of the female is not black, but pale orange; her colours are generally less bright.

Males a year or two old are without the fine black throat; it is clouded with white.

HABITATION.--In their wild state, these wagtails are found throughout
Europe; but in the greatest number in mountainous and wooded parts,
where the brooks flow over beds of pebbles. They are birds of
passage, and return amongst us the end of February or beginning of
March. A few have been observed to remain during mild winters, when
they take up their abode near dunghills or warm springs.

In the house they should be kept in a nightingale's cage, and treated
like one; they are so delicate, that with the greatest care they can
rarely be preserved two years.

FOOD.--When wild they prefer aquatic insects, and are continually
chasing them among the plants and stones by the water-side.

In the house they should be fed on the same food as the nightingale,
to which they may be gradually accustomed, by throwing amongst it
meal-worms and ants' eggs.

BREEDING.--Their nests, placed by the water-side, in mill-dikes, or
heaps of stones, are formed with rather more art than those of the
preceding species. They begin to lay as early as March, five or six
white eggs, mottled with flesh-colour. The young ones must be reared
on ants' eggs and the crumb of white bread, soaked in boiled milk.

MODE OF TAKING.--This is very simple; it is only to plant sticks with
limed twigs and meal-worms attached to them, on the banks, or in the
middle of a stream which they frequent; you will not have to wait
long before some are caught.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--They are as pleasing as the common wagtail; but
their plumage is more brilliant, and their voice stronger. Their
beautiful clear trilling sound renders their song agreeable, though
rather short.

THE YELLOW WAGTAIL.

Motacilla flava, LINNÆUS; La Bergeronette du printemps,
BUFFON; Die gelbe Bachstelze, BECHSTEIN.

This might almost be mistaken for the female of the preceding species; but it is smaller, or rather shorter, as its tail is not so long, measuring only two inches and a half. The total length of this bird is six inches and a half; the beak is dusky; the iris nut brown; the shanks ten lines high, and black; the upper part of the body reddish grey, with a decided olive tint, which on the rump becomes a canary green; the head inclines more to grey than green, and above the eyes is a reddish white streak; the under part of the body is of a fine yellow, which becomes citron from age, and is palest at the throat and breast.

The back of the female is greyer; the belly of a less beautiful yellow; the throat whitish, and, with the breast as far as the belly, spotted with red or rust colour, in the male.

HABITATION.--When wild, this species, better known than the preceding,
is found throughout the plains of Europe, running about the pastures
amongst the sheep and cattle. They assemble in September, and depart
for warmer countries in large flights, uttering the cry "_sipp,
sipp!_" in a clear tone; they return in March.

It must be treated like the grey wagtail, in the house; but it is not
so delicate.

FOOD.--When wild it feeds on flies and other insects that tease the
cattle.

In the house it must be fed like the preceding.

BREEDING.--Its nest, made of stubble, and lined with wool, is placed
at the water-side, or in a deserted mole-hill, sometimes in the grass,
or corn, like the lark's. It breeds twice in the year, each time
laying five or six eggs, grey-blue, spotted all over with reddish
grey, and very like those described above. The under parts of the
young birds are much paler than in the old ones. They must be reared
on ants' eggs and white bread soaked in boiled milk.

MODE OF TAKING.--These birds are not very easily caught; at least, I
have always found it very difficult to succeed; and, therefore, one
is reduced to the necessity of placing limed twigs on the nest, which
is cruel. If snow should fall, however, after their return in spring,
some of them may be taken, by clearing a convenient place, and
scattering there meal-worms amongst limed twigs, if you succeed in
bringing the birds near.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Its beauty and agreeable song make this bird a
desirable acquisition; but with every possible attention, I have
never been able to keep one more than two years.

THE WHEATEAR.

Motacilla OEnanthe, LINNÆUS; L'OEnanthe, ou Le Culblanc,
BUFFON; Der Weisschwanz, BECHSTEIN.

This bird, found throughout Europe and the northern parts of Asia, resembles the wagtail in size and air; but its tail being only an inch and ten lines, its total length is only five inches and a half. The beak, seven lines long, is black, as well as the iris and feet; the shanks are an inch high; the forehead white, and a white streak passes above the eyes, crossed by a black line springing from the nostrils, which also tints the cheeks; all the upper parts of the body and the scapulars are of a light ash-grey colour, slightly tinged with a reddish hue.

The back of the female is reddish grey, and the under parts of the body darker than in the male; the lesser wing-coverts are edged with rust-red, and the white of the tail is not so clear as in the male, but is of a reddish tint.

The young ones, before moulting, are spotted with red on a dark brown ground, on the upper part of the body; on the under speckled with orange and black. After moulting, both males and females retain for another year the colour of the female on the back, that is to say, reddish grey.

HABITATION.--When wild this species frequents stony and mountainous
places; and, during their migration, they may be seen resting in the
fields, on the tops of isolated stakes, and other similar places;
rarely on trees or bushes. They take their departure during the first
fortnight in September, and return towards the middle of April, when
white frosts cease.

In the house these birds must be kept in nightingales' cages, or shut
up behind a grating, and not suffered to range until accustomed in
their prison to their new food; for, unless taken good care of at
first, they will soon die. They can rarely be tamed.

FOOD.--When wild they feed on flies and other insects, which they
catch as they run along.

In the house they must be given plenty of meal-worms and ants' eggs
as soon as they are taken; for, if not fed profusely, they will die,
and what is rather astonishing, of diarrhoea, although they have
not eaten any of the common house-food. Afterwards they may be fed on
nightingales' food, and occasionally on white bread soaked in boiled
milk; yet, with every attention, they can rarely be preserved more
than two years.

BREEDING.--Their nests, formed of stalks of grass and feathers, are
generally placed in the crevices of some stone-quarry, sometimes in
holes on the banks of streams or rivers, or in an empty mole-hill, or
even on a heap of stones. They lay from five to six eggs, of a
greenish white. To rear the young ones, they must be taken when
half-fledged, and fed on ants' eggs and white bread soaked in boiled
milk.

MODE OF TAKING.--Limed twigs must be placed on the stones or stakes
where these birds rest, or even on sticks fixed in the ground for the
purpose, and they must be driven gently towards the snares.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--No one would take the trouble to tame a
full-grown wheatear, unless passionately fond of keeping birds. I
have one, that, by the use of plenty of fresh ants' eggs, has been
accustomed to range the room. Its plumage is pleasing, its actions
graceful; it is continually waving and spreading its fine tail. Its
song is passable, but is interrupted every now and then by a kind of
scream.

MR. SWEET'S ACCOUNT OF THE WHEATEAR.

The present interesting species generally arrives in this country about the middle of March, and leaves it again the latter end of September or the beginning of October, though I one year saw a pair in Hyde Park as late as the 17th of November.

In a wild state they are generally to be found on downs and commons, and in Sussex some hundred dozens are caught annually by the shepherds, who sell them for the sake of their flesh, which is very delicious, particularly in autumn, when they become very fat.

This is a very interesting bird in confinement, and is almost continually singing; it will also sing by night as well as by day, if there is a light in the room where it is kept; it has a very pleasant, variable, and agreeable song, different from all other birds, which, in confinement, it continues all the winter. When a pair of them are kept together in a large cage or aviary, it is very amusing to see them at play with each other, flying up and down, and spreading open their long wings in a curious manner, dancing and singing at the same time. I have very little doubt but a young bird, brought up from the nest, might be taught to talk, as they are very imitative.

When wild the present species feeds entirely on insects, so that the more it has given it when in confinement, the better. There are very few sorts of insects that it will refuse, except the common earth-worm; small beetles, cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, most sorts of caterpillars, butterflies, moths, earwigs, woodlice, the common maggots, and almost all other sorts of insects it is very fond of, and the more that is given it, the finer will be its song. Its common food is bruised hemp-seed and bread, intermixed with fresh, raw, lean meat; also a little of the yolk of an egg boiled hard occasionally for a change.

THE WHINCHAT.

Montacilla Rubetra, _Linnæus_; Le Tarier, ou Le Grand Traquet,
BUFFON; Der Braunkehliger Steinschmätzer, BECHSTEIN.

This is a delicate bird that is met with throughout Europe, among scattered bushes and abrupt declivities. It is four inches ten lines in length, of which the tail measures an inch and a half. The beak is black, as also the legs, which are nine lines high; the upper parts of the body are dusky, in very old birds black, but streaked with pale rust-red, as all the feathers are edged with this colour; a white line, beginning at the nostrils, passes above the eyes as far as the ears; the cheeks are dusky, spotted with chestnut; the throat and breast are yellow, inclining to orange, the former edged with white on the sides and chin.

The colours are paler in the female, the streak above the eyes is yellowish; the upper part of the body dark brown, spotted with rust; the cheeks dark brown; the throat reddish-white; the breast pale orange, with small round, black and brown spots, which gradually disappear from age.

These birds vary till the third year. The young ones, which may be seen perched on cabbages and other plants, even on strong wheat stalks, have the whole of the upper part of the body covered with red and blackish spots, and each feather edged with this colour before the first moulting; the under part of the body is like the female. I killed two in their second year, that still had dusky spots on the breast, though they had become darker on the back; in general, the two sexes may be distinguished by the deep brown of the cheeks and back.

HABITATION.--When wild they generally frequent the skirts of woods.
They appear amongst us the beginning of May, and depart towards the
end of September. In August they may be seen scattered over the
fields, on the stalks of plants, or detached bushes.

In the house they must be kept in a nightingale's cage.

BREEDING.--The nest, constructed of dried grass mixed with moss, lined
with hair and feathers, is commonly placed in a tuft of grass in the
middle of a meadow or orchard. The females lay five or six eggs, of a
fine light blue. Young ones reared on ants' eggs succeed much better
than those taken full grown.

MODE OF TAKING.--In spring, when some of these birds are seen in a
field or meadow, sticks, furnished with limed twigs, should be stuck
there, and the birds gently driven to that side, to induce them to
settle, which they will soon do. In summer, the noose, spring-trap,
and limed twigs, must be employed in the following manner:--If the
noose is used, a stake must be set up, about three feet high, slit at
the top to put in crossways a stick three inches long, and the noose
is placed an inch and a half above, to be of the height of the bird's
breast when it is perched on the stick.

If limed twigs are used, forked switches three feet long should be
employed: the fork, four inches in length, must be covered with
bird-lime. Spring-traps or gins must be suspended to small stakes or
cabbage stalks. As soon as a sufficient number of these spring-traps,
snares, and limed twigs, are prepared, they must be carried to a
cabbage garden, when a number of these whinchats has been seen;
there fix the stakes in cross lines, two or three paces apart; then
go to the end of the garden and drive the birds gently towards the
snares; they jump from one cabbage stalk to another till they
approach the stakes; then you stop, and in a short time the birds are
caught one after another. When they are caught, the prisoners must be
taken out and the snares arranged again; then go to the other end and
again drive the birds forward as before, and thus continue till the
sport is over.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--However gay this bird may appear when free, it
becomes sad and melancholy in the house. If permitted to range, it
only moves to procure food, and then returns to its accustomed place,
and keeps its head sunk on its breast. Its pleasing song very much
resembles the goldfinch's; but what makes it more admired, is, that
it is not only heard during the day, but also in the evening, and
sometimes during the night.

MR. SWEET'S ACCOUNT OF THE WHINCHAT.

This pretty species is also known by the name of Furze Chat, and is very often confounded with the stonechat, which is a very different species. It generally visits this country in the beginning of April, and leaves us towards the end of September. All the fore part of the season it visits commons, where it may be seen on the furze bushes, flying backwards and forwards after the insects that pass. It builds its nest on the ground in a thicket, which it covers up with dry grass, so that it is impossible to find it without watching the old ones, either in carrying materials to build, or food to their young. I have generally found them with six or seven young ones, which, with care, are easily bred up from the nest, keeping them warm, dry, and clean, and feeding them with the same sorts of food as recommended for the old ones; they should not be taken till quite fledged, and should at first be placed in a little basket with covers, as they will then readily open their mouths for food. I consider those reared from the nest much the best, or such as are caught very young, as they may then be taught any tune, or will learn the song of any bird they hear, their own song not being a very good one.

This bird may be considered as one of the tenderest of the tribe, being very susceptible of cold. It is one of my greatest favourites. One that I bred from the nest by hand, learnt the song of the white-throat, the redstart, willow-wren, nightingale, and also that of a missel-thrush, which it frequently heard singing in a garden near by; of this latter song it was so fond, that we were frequently obliged to put our favourite out of the room, not being able to bear its loud notes; it was certainly the best bird I ever kept of any kind, singing nearly the whole year through, and varying its song continually; the only fault was its strong voice. At last, our favourite was turned out of its cage by a mischievous servant on a cold winter day, when we were from home for about an hour, and we could not entice it back; it most probably died of the cold, or took its flight to a warmer region. I scarcely entertain any hopes of ever getting such another; the food of the present species is precisely the same as the last.

MR. SWEET'S ACCOUNT OF THE STONECHAT.

This, like the preceding, is generally to be found on hills and commons, harbouring chiefly amongst the furze bushes, and feeds, as far as I have observed, entirely on insects. It is not so tender as the whinchat, some few of them occasionally stopping in this country all the winter. It feeds, when wild, on small beetles, flies, as also all sorts of butterflies, moths, caterpillars, woodlice, and various other insects.

In confinement their food must be the same as the whinchat's. They soon become very tame, and if bred up from the nest will learn the notes of other birds, which are in general better than their own. Their own song, though loud, is very short, but they have a strong voice to repeat the notes of another bird.

THE WHITE-THROAT.

Sylvia cinerea, BECHSTEIN; Le Fauvette grise ou Grisette,
BUFFON; Die gemeine Grasmücke, BECHSTEIN.

This bird is five inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures two and three-quarters. The beak, five lines long, is dusky above and greyish beneath, with the corners and interior of the throat yellow; the iris is greyish brown; the shanks are brownish flesh-coloured, and ten lines high; the head is ash-grey: the cheeks, neck, back, rump, tail-coverts and lesser wing-coverts, are also ash-grey, but tinged with brown, deeper on the back than elsewhere; the throat and belly are fine white.

The female, rather smaller and lighter, rust-coloured on the wings, has not a fine white throat like the male.

HABITATION.--When wild the white-throat is spread through Europe. They
leave us the beginning of October, and are then observed to retire
from bush to bush, and from hedge to hedge. They reappear towards the
middle of April, fluttering about the bushes in the fields, the
brambles, thickets, underwood of the low mountains, and the orchards,
running about very swiftly.

In the house they must be treated in the same manner as the fauvette;
but they are much more delicate. An amateur had better rear young
birds, and treat them like nightingales. It is the only way to keep
them many years.

FOOD.--When wild these birds are constantly seeking among the bushes
for all kinds of insects, grubs, and especially small caterpillars.
When, from the air becoming cooler, the supply of this sort of food
lessens, they immediately substitute for it currants, cherries, and
elderberries.

In the house they must be fed, as we said before, on nightingales'
food. They may, however, be given, occasionally, barley meal and
white bread soaked in boiled milk; but this food alone will not agree
with them, for they will upon it gradually lose their feathers, till
at length they become quite bare. It is a good thing in summer to
give them elderberries, though they may be red, and in winter dried
ones, after soaking them in water.

BREEDING.--The nest is formed of small grass stems and moss, and lined
with horse-hair. It is placed in a thick bush, near the ground, or
among roots at the water side, sometimes even in tufts of grass. The
eggs, from four to six in number, are greenish white, spotted with
olive green, and speckled at the large end with dark ash-grey. The
young leave the nest so soon that it is difficult to take them from
it. Their first plumage resembles full-grown ones, and the females
may be known by the fainter tint of fawn brown with which the
wing-feathers are edged. I have reared them easily on ants' eggs.
They soon learn to peck alone, and are tolerably satisfied with bread
soaked in boiled milk; but to keep them long in health they must be
fed in the same manner as the nightingale. They are pretty, engaging
birds, thus reared, becoming so tame that they will perch and sing on
the finger.

DISEASES.--These are the same as those of the blackcap, which may be
referred to.

MODE OF TAKING.--The easiest way is to place limed twigs on the nest,
but this is repugnant to persons not cruel. Towards the end of
summer, spring-traps may be set, with elderberries and gooseberries
hung near them. It is difficult to take these birds at the
water-trap.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--This bird, gay, lively, and constantly in
motion, is a pleasing object in the country. Its song, prolonged far
into the night, consists of several strains, which rapidly succeed
each other, but must be near for all its beauties to be
distinguished, since the soft low tones are only occasionally
interrupted by louder notes, which are shrill and follow quickly one
after the other. The bird rises in the air as it sings, as if to be
better heard, circles round as it ceases, and sinks again into its
bush. Its call is a loud _tze_. When the white-throat is alone in a
room, its song appears very melodious.

MR. SWEET'S ACCOUNT OF THE WHITE-THROAT.

This is one of the most delightful and pleasing birds that can be imagined. If kept in a large cage with other birds it is so full of antics, in flying and frisking about, and erecting its crest, generally singing all the time, certainly nothing can be more amusing. It is also quite as hardy as the blackcap, and if a good one be procured, it is little inferior in song: but in this they vary considerably, the wild ones as well as those in a cage. I have now one in my possession that I have had about eleven years, in as good health, and singing as well as ever; and certainly no song need be louder, sweeter, or more varied. It is of the same temper as a nightingale, never suffering itself to be outdone. It will indeed sing for hours together against a nightingale, now in the beginning of January, and it will not suffer itself to be outdone; when the nightingale raises its voice, it also does the same, and tries its utmost to get above it; sometimes in the midst of its song it will run up to the nightingale, and stretch out its neck as if in defiance, and whistle as loud as it can, staring it in the face; if the nightingale attempts to peck it, away it is in an instant flying round the aviary, and singing all the time.

In a wild state, the present species is generally to be found in hedges and gardens, and is the most common of our British warblers, visiting us the beginning or middle of April, and leaving us towards the end of September; sometimes a solitary one may be seen in October, but not frequently. It is particularly fond of flies, or a rose-branch covered with aphides will please it very much.

THE BABILLARD.

Sylvia curruca, BECHSTEIN; Motacilla dumetorum, LINNÆUS; La
Fauvette babillarde, BUFFON; Das Müllerchen, BECHSTEIN.

This bird somewhat resembles the white-throat, but is smaller, and has less rust colour on the wings. It is five inches long, the tail measuring more than two. The beak is five lines in length, very pointed, black above, and bluish below; the iris has two rings, the outer one pale yellow, the inner a brilliant golden yellow; the shanks, seven lines high, are raven black; the head and rump are dark ash grey; the rest of the upper part of the body is grey, with a reddish tint; the cheeks and the part behind the ears are darker than the head; the throat and under part of the body are white, but the sides of the breast are tinged with reddish grey, and those of the belly with reddish brown.

The birds must be before you to be able to distinguish the two sexes; you can then only perceive that the head of the female is of a lighter colour, and the feet rather blue than black.

HABITATION.--When wild this species is found throughout Europe, except
the north. It is common in the hedges in Germany, disappearing in
September, and returning the middle of April. Its taste for currants
often draws it to the garden hedge. It is not very often seen in
young coppice wood, scarcely ever on trees[97], continually on low
bushes.

In the house it must be lodged like the fauvette, and taken the same
care of; it is so delicate, that when taken rather old it can rarely
be preserved.

FOOD.--When wild it is the same as the preceding species.

In the house these birds cannot be kept long, unless fed on
nightingales' food, mingled with ants' eggs and meal-worms.

BREEDING.--The nest is generally found on a thick gooseberry bush, or
white-thorn, and on young fir trees in fir woods. It is formed of
coarse dried grass, lined with small roots mixed with hogs' bristles.
There are five or six eggs, white, spotted at the large end with grey
and yellow brown in a circle. The female's attachment to her brood
may be known from her dropping from her nest almost fainting as soon
as any one approaches, uttering anxious cries, fluttering on the
ground, and slowly retiring from the nest. Scarcely are the young
ones fledged, when, if looked at, they will dart like an arrow from
the nest, and run and hide themselves among the bushes. If you wish
to rear them, they must be taken as I have directed for the
fauvette, remembering that the male and female cannot then be
distinguished.

DISEASES.--These are the same as in the fauvettes.

MODE OF TAKING.--If snow should fall after their return, a place near
a hedge should be cleared, and limed twigs fastened to the lower
branches; after having thrown meal-worms there, the birds should be
gently driven towards it, and for the sake of the worms they will
creep under the limed twigs, and remain caught.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Though the plumage is not very striking, yet
this bird is very pretty. Some clacking tones, rather like the noise
of a mill, have given it in Germany the name of the _little Miller_;
as these notes are heard more distinctly than the others, they are
erroneously thought to be its whole song; but the rest, certainly
very weak, is so soft, so varied, so melodious, that it surpasses
other warblers. Whilst singing in this under tone it is continually
hopping about the bushes, but when going to utter _clap, clap_, it
stops and employs the whole strength of the larynx to pronounce this
syllable. To enjoy the beauty of its song it should be alone in a
room, and then no other singing bird is more agreeable, as it rarely
utters its call.

MR. SWEET'S ACCOUNT OF THE BABILLARD.

This is a handsome, little, lively species, more elegant and smaller than the white-throat, and of a purer colour; its throat being as white as snow. It generally visits us the beginning or middle of April, and leaves us again the end of August or beginning of September. Its song is not so agreeable as most of the other species of warblers; but it is soft and pretty, and very different from any other. It is also more valuable by being much more rare; some seasons very few visit us, in others they are sufficiently plentiful. Its habits are somewhat similar to those of the white-throat, but it is much more quarrelsome, sometimes so much so, that it must be taken from the other birds or it will worry them to death, even if they are double its size.

In confinement it will soon become tame and familiar, and will readily take to feed on bread and milk, and also on bruised hemp-seed and bread. One that I bred up from the nest became so attached to its cage, that it could not be prevailed upon to quit it for any length of time. When the door of it was set open, it would generally come out quickly, and first perch on the door, then mount to the top of the cage, thence it would fly to any other cages that were in the room, and catch any flies that came within its reach; sometimes it would descend to the floor, or perch on a table or chair, and would fly up and take a fly out of the hand, or drink milk out of a spoon if invited: of this it was very fond. As soon as it was the least frightened, it would fly immediately to its cage, first on the top, thence to the door, and would enter in exactly as it came out. I have often hung it out at the window perched on the top of its cage, with the door open, and it would never attempt to fly away. Sometimes if a fly should happen to pass near it, it would fly off and catch it, and return with it to the top of the cage: after remaining there a considerable time, it would either return into it, or fly in at the window, and perch on the cages of the other birds. It is rather more tender than the white-throat.

MR. BLYTH'S ACCOUNT OF THE BABILLARD.

The warble of the babillard (_Curruca garrula_, Brisson) is pretty and lively, but its song is rendered monotonous in the spring and summer by the constant repetition of its loud note of defiance, analogous to the clear lively note with which the blackcap generally concludes: this may be expressed by the monosyllable _see_, repeated nine or ten times in quick succession, and at times very loudly: it is a note, which, though agreeable enough when only heard occasionally, becomes quite tiresome when continually reiterated. This species, however, can warble very sweetly if it please, and, in confinement, during the first months of the year, its song is heard to great advantage in a room; it then rarely repeats its loud _see see see_, and when, at that time, the above-mentioned note is uttered, it forms, indeed, an agreeable variety. The song of the babillard is formed of a number of soft chirping notes, many of which are extremely sweet and musical, and though at times tolerably loud, yet they are generally delivered in a very low tone, scarcely audible at a little distance. The male is almost perpetually singing, erecting his crest and the feathers of his throat in the manner of a white-throat, and, like that species and the furze warbler, he is in constant motion the whole time, throwing himself into a variety of odd gesticulations. The song of this bird is very superior to that of many white-throats, but not to all; he has none of those harsh sounding notes which so often disfigure the white-throat's song. He seems also to be always in such high spirits as not to know how to contain himself, taking frequently a long circuitous flight from tree to tree, and back again, a dozen times, seemingly for no other purpose than mere exercise; but he never mounts singing into the air, like the white-throat. There are yet many persons, I believe, who consider this species to be "a mere variety" of the white-throat. These two species differ from each other in size, in make, in colour, in their manners, their habits, their song, in the structure of their nest, and in the marking of their eggs; and surely, "if all these circumstances (as Wilson observes, after making similar remarks on two American birds, one of which had been considered a 'bastard' production of the other) be not sufficient to designate this (the babillard) as a distinct species, by what criterion, I would ask, are we to discriminate between a _variety_ and an _original species_, or, to assure ourselves, that the great horned owl is not, in fact, a _bastard_ goose, or the carrion crow a mere _variety_ of the humming bird?"

THE BLACK REDSTART.

Motacilla Tithys, LINNÆUS: Le Rouge-queue, BUFFON; Der
Wistling, BECHSTEIN.

Length five inches and one quarter, of which the tail alone measures two and one quarter. The beak is five lines long, very pointed and black, the inside and corners yellow; the iris is dusky; the shanks are nine lines high, and black; the upper part of the body is dark bluish, or blackish gray; the rump is red; the cheeks, throat, and breast, are black; the belly and sides are of the same dark colour as the back, but tinged with white; the vent is reddish yellow.

The upper part of the body in the female is dusky ash grey; the under part ash grey, with a reddish tinge.

The colours of this bird vary during the first eight years; the oldest ones, with the exception of the tail and wings, are in general black, but deeper on the under part than the upper; the very oldest have a greyish breast.

Those a year or two old very much resemble the females, having the upper part of the body ash grey, but the under rather more of a reddish colour; the quill-feathers have a more decided border. After two years the depth of the colour gradually increases. Several bird-catchers, and from them some authors, have considered these birds of different ages as different species.

HABITATION.--In its wild state the black redstart is found in the
temperate parts of Europe and in Asia in the same latitudes[98]. They
seem to prefer mountainous districts to wide plains, and they are
seen in great numbers on bare chalk-hills; if found in woods, it is
only in those that are on rocks. They frequent towns and villages,
perching on the highest buildings, towers, steeples, churches, and
castles[99]. In spring and autumn it hops about the hedges. It
arrives early in the spring, its song is heard in the beginning of
March, and it quits us in small flights towards the middle of
October. It possesses one quality, not common among singing birds,
that of singing all the year, or, at least, whilst in our country,
however cold and stormy the weather may be.

In the house it should be kept in a nightingale's cage, or at least
not permitted to range the room.

FOOD.--When wild it feeds on flies, drawn by the warmth of spring from
their retreat, and settled on walls; afterwards on cabbage
caterpillars and other insects, and in autumn on berries.

In the house they may be kept in health a long time, if the above
insects are procured for them, or if fed on nightingales' food,
adding occasionally ants' eggs and meal-worms.

Old birds taken in autumn may sometimes be tamed and accustomed to
eat the common food in the room, by putting amongst elderberries, in
autumn, ants' eggs, and meal-worms at other seasons. They have been
known to live five or six years in a cage.

BREEDING.--This bird makes its nest in the holes of rocks and walls,
particularly in high buildings, on the timbers of barns, and places
it at a distance from any other. It is constructed of hay, mixed with
the hair of animals. Each laying (for there are two in the year)
consists of five or six white eggs. The young have a reddish grey
plumage, and should be taken from the nest when the tail is half
grown, if it is wished to rear them. They should be fed on ants'
eggs, and white bread soaked in boiled milk.

DISEASES.--These are the same as those of the fauvette.

MODE OF TAKING.--Limed twigs, with meal-worms fastened to them, should
be laid wherever these birds are most frequently found. Towards
winter they may be caught in spring-traps with elderberries hung
opposite.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Its call, "_fitza_," being very similar to the
nightingale's, has given rise most probably to its name of Wall
Nightingale, which it has in common with the following species. Its
song certainly cannot enter into comparison with that of the
nightingale, for it is sad, and consists of only three strains, the
middle one scarcely more than croaking; the other two may boast of a
few high clear tones; it may be heard from early in the morning till
night. It is always gay and active, its motions light and nimble; it
shakes its tail quickly from side to side at every hop or spring, and
utters continually the cry "_fitza[100]!_"

THE COMMON REDSTART.

Motacilla Phoenicurus, LINNÆUS; Le Rossignol de muraille,
BUFFON; Das Gemeiner oder Garten-Rothschwänzchen, BECHSTEIN.

Its length is five inches and a quarter, of which the tail measures two and a quarter. The beak is five lines, the tip is blunt, black on the outside, yellow within and at the corners; the iris is black; the shanks are of the same colour, and ten lines high; the base of the upper mandible and cheeks are black, as also the throat, but this is speckled with white; the white on the front of the head unites with a streak of the same colour, which extends above the eyes; the back of the head and neck, the back and lesser wing-coverts, are dark ash grey tinged with a reddish colour; the rump, breast, and sides, are red inclining to orange.

The female is very different, very much resembling that of the black redstart, yet its colours are rather lighter. The upper part of its body is reddish ash grey; the whitish throat is not clouded with black till the fifth or sixth year; the breast is dusky rust-red waved with white; the belly is dusky white; the rump is reddish yellow[101].

It is not till after the first moulting that the distinction between the plumage of the males and females is obvious; even then the breast of the male retains the black tinged with white, but loses this tint in the course of the following summer; the males also have for some time a white streak on the forehead, that passes above the eyes, and the belly is more white than rust-red.

HABITATION.--In a wild state these birds are found in Europe and Asia,
and are very common in Germany and England. They leave us the
beginning of October, and return the end of March or beginning of
April. At this time and in autumn they haunt hedges and bushes; but
in summer they principally frequent gardens, the banks of streams
planted with willows, and even forests. Those that frequent gardens
also enter towns, and will perch on the roofs of the houses,
enlivening the inmates with their song from morning till night.

In the house, if given a cage, it should be of such light wire work
as not to conceal the beauty of the plumage.

FOOD.--When wild they feed on all kinds of insects, earth-worms,
currants, and elderberries.

In the house, if taken in autumn, they may sometimes be induced to
feed on elderberries, rarely on the poultry paste. To entice them to
this meal-worms must be mixed with it at first, and some thrown in
when it is eaten; ants' eggs must be added in spring. These birds are
delicate, and always require to be supplied with insects; but never
give them earth-worms, as they do not digest them easily. If kept in
cages they should be given nightingales' food; yet fed in this way it
is rare to preserve them above three or four years; they generally
die of consumption or atrophy.

BREEDING.--The redstart generally places its nest in a hole of a tree
or wall; it is negligently formed of moss, stalks of grass, feathers,
and hair. The female has two broods in the year, and each time she
lays from five to seven eggs, of an apple green. Scarcely have the
tail-feathers begun to grow ere the young ones hop from the nest and
perch on some neighbouring branch, where they receive food from the
parent birds till they are able to seek it for themselves. Their
plumage before moulting is ash grey spotted with white. The young
females resemble the nightingale so much in autumn that they are
often mistaken for it. Bird-fanciers should rear these birds on ants'
eggs, with white bread soaked in boiled milk occasionally, and thus
accustom them to the common universal paste. They learn to repeat
parts of the songs of their companions.

DISEASES.--Diarrhoea and atrophy carry off the greatest number.

MODE OF TAKING.--Sticks covered with bird-lime should be placed across
the hedges frequented by these birds; they must then be driven gently
towards them. They are also attracted under nets, and amongst limed
twigs baited with meal-worms. In autumn they may be taken in nooses,
by suspending elderberries near them, either in orchards or thickets.
Those intended for the house should be taken in bird-traps or
springes, taking care that the wooden part be covered with felt or
cork, to prevent the legs being broken. The young ones of the first
year are the easiest to preserve. They also go to the water-trap
without difficulty.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Its plumage, and still more its song and
sprightliness, render this a delightful bird. It is always in motion,
bowing, and moving its tail from side to side at every step; all its
actions are lively and graceful. It can improve its song, composed of
some very pretty strains, by adding to it parts of the songs of birds
that are found near it. For instance, those that build under my roof
imitate tolerably the chaffinch that hangs in a cage at my window;
and a neighbour of mine has one in his garden that repeats some
strains of a blackcap that has its nest near. This facility in
appropriating the song of other birds is rare in birds that live in a
state of liberty, and seems peculiar to this species. They become so
tame that they will take meal-worms from the hand.

MR. SWEET'S ACCOUNT OF THE REDSTART.

This is one of the handsomest of our British birds, visiting us the latter end of March or beginning of April; the earliest arrival ever noticed was the 25th of March, and they generally leave us the beginning of September. When they first arrive they mostly frequent old buildings or out-houses, for the sake of flies and small insects that often abound there. They build their nest in a hole or crevice of a wall, or in a hollow tree. They frequently ascend to the top of the highest tree within their haunt, and there sit sometimes for a considerable time, pouring out their quick and sort of fretful song. When kept in confinement I consider it the most sensible, and, if brought up from the nest, the most attached of all small birds; but it may be considered the most tender of the whole tribe. It is a real mocker, and if bred up from a young one, will learn the note or call of almost any other bird; it will also learn a tune that is whistled or sung to it, and will sing by night as well as day if a light be kept in the room where it is.

I was in possession of a handsome male bird of this species, which I kept more than six years. It became very tame, though an old wild bird when first caught, and it was so attached to its cage, that one day, having got its liberty, it flew away into the gardens, where it stayed six or seven hours, after which it returned to its cage again. In the year 1825 I saw a female bird of this species so late as the 21st of November, flying about as lively as at midsummer; it had probably escaped or been turned out of a cage. When in confinement it is particularly partial to ants' eggs, and also to the common maggots.

THE ARBOUR BIRD.

Sylvia polyglotta, RANZANI; Sylvia Hippolais, BECHSTEIN; Le
Bec-fin à poitrine jaune, TEMMINCK; Die Gelbbrust, BECHSTEIN;
Die Spotvogel, WICHTERICH.

This pleasing bird, which is met with wherever there are groves and bushes[102], is five inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures two and a quarter. The beak, seven lines long, is straight, blunt, bluish grey above, and yellow tinged with flesh-colour beneath, with yellowish corners, and the entrance of the throat citron yellow; the iris is dark brown; the shanks, ten lines high, are lead-coloured. The head is pointed in front; the back, rump, and lesser wing-coverts, are olive ash grey; a yellow line extends from the nostrils to the eyes; the whole of the under part of the body is a fine light yellow; the tail and wings are dark brown; the secondary quill-feathers have so wide a white border that it forms a spot on the closed wings.

HABITATION.--In its wild state it frequents orchards, groves, and
brambles; but with us it seems to prefer small woods that are
interspersed with resinous trees. It arrives the end of April, and
quits us as early as the end of August, before the moulting season.

In the house it is kept in a nightingale's cage, in which no change
must be made, still less must another be given it, for it would not
survive these disturbances. It is so delicate, that if taken when
full grown it is almost impossible to tame it.

FOOD.--When wild its food is all kinds of insects, smooth
caterpillars, flies, gnats, &c.; and if these are scarce,
berries[103].

In the house it prefers these insects and meal-worms. It is only with
great patience and management that it can be given a taste for the
nightingale's food. In general it will eat nothing but insects.

BREEDING.--The nest of the arbour bird is one of those that are so
well and curiously formed, commonly placed eight feet above the
ground, in the fork of a tree. It is built of pieces of the white
bark of the birch tree, dried plants, caterpillars' webs, wool, and
the upper layer of down. All these white materials give it the
appearance of being made of paper. It is lined with the finest hay.
The female lays five eggs, which are at first of a pale rose red, but
after having been sat upon some days acquire a dark flesh-coloured
tint, speckled with dark red. This species has but one brood in the
year, and if the nest is approached two or three times it will desert
it, whether the young ones are hatched or not.