It possesses an exquisite sweet tone, and cannot fail to attract the attention of the ornithologist. The eggs are five, of a yellowish-brown colour, spotted with darker patches of the same. The "garrulous fauvet," or "lesser whitethroat." Its song consists of two or three harsh notes, which is monotonous. The eggs are five, of a greenish-white colour, spotted with brown at the large end. The "pied wagtail" appears in February and departs in October. It may often be seen sporting about in a thousand different ways; its favourite haunts are by running streams. The song is not powerful, nor destitute of melody. The eggs are five, of a light ash-colour, spotted all over with brown spots The "grey wagtail." Like the former species, this bird frequents pebbly, running streams which flow through meadows. It is an elegant bird. The under parts are of a bright yellow; the head and back yellow ish-green. As regards vocal powers, he has none, but is amply compensated in his beautiful plumage. The "rock pipit." The length of this species is six inches and three-quarters. The bill is dusky; head, back, and neck of a dark brown; over the eye and below the ear is a light-coloured stroke; the throat white; breast and belly white, the former blotched with dusky spots; two middle feathers of the tail dark-brown colour; legs and toes dusky; claws black. Its song and habits are like those of the meadow-pipit. It lays five eggs of a dirty white, with specks of brown. The "meadow-pipit." Its song is not unlike that of the sky-lark, but very feeble: it is the most familiar British species of the genus. It usually sings whilst rising in the air, which is performed with a quivering action of the wings. The "tree-pipit." Its notes bear no resemblance to those of the meadow-pipit. In ascending into the air he has a kind of twitter; having reached a proper altitude he flutters, and, commencing his melody, descends. The eggs are five, ash-coloured, sprinkled with brownish purple spots all over. All the pipits have an elongated hind-claw, which causes them to be more at ease on land than when perching. CHAP. IV. OF THE CANARY-BIRD, AND OTHER HARD-BILLED SINGING-BIRDS. The Canary-bird is now become so common, and has continued so long in a domestic state, that its native habits as well as its native country seem almost forgotten. Though, by the name, it appears that these birds came originally from the Canary Islands, yet we have it only from Germany, where they are bred up in great numbers, and sold into different parts of Europe. At what period they were brought into Europe is not well known; but it is certain that about a century ago they were sold at very high prices, and kept only for the amusement of the great. They have since been multiplied in great abundance; and their price is diminished in proportion to their plenty. In its native islands-a region equally noted for the beauty of its landscapes and the harmony of its grovesthe Canary-bird is of a dusky-grey colour, and so different from those usually seen in Europe, that some have even doubted whether it be of the same species. With us they have that variety of colouring usual in all domestic fowls-some white, some mottled, some beautifully shaded with green; but they are more esteemed for their note than their beauty, having a high piercing pipe, as indeed all those of the finch tribe have, continuing for some time in one breath without intermission, then raising it higher and higher by degrees with great variety. It is this that has rendered the Canary-bird, next to the nightingale, the most celebrated songster; and, as it is more easily reared than any of the soft-billed birds, and continues its song throughout the year, it is rather the most common in our houses. Rules, therefore, have been laid down, and copious instructions given, for breeding these birds in a domestic state; which, as a part of them may conduce towards the natural history of the bird, I will take leave to transcribe. In choosing the Canary-bird, those are best that appear with life and boldness, standing upright upon the perch, like a sparrow-hawk, and not apt to be frightened at everything that stirs. If its eyes look cheerful and not drowsy it is a sign of health; but, on the contrary, if it hides its head under the wing and gathers its body up, these are symptoms of its being out of order. In choosing them the melody of the song should also be minded some will open with the notes of the nightingale, and, running through a variety of modulations, end like the tit-lark. Others will begin like the sky-lark, and, by a soft melodious turn, fall into the notes of the nightingale. These are lessons taught this bird in its domestic state, and generally taught it by others; but its native note is loud, shrill, piercing, and enough to deafen the hearers. There are persons who admire each of these songs, but the second is in the most general estimation. Canary-birds sometimes breed all the year round; but they most usually begin to pair in April, and to breed in June and August. Those are said to be the best breeders that are produced between the English and the French. Towards the latter end of March a cock and a hen should be put together in a small cage, where they will peck at each other in the beginning, but will soon become thoroughly reconciled. The room where they are kept to breed should be so situated as to let the birds have the benefit of the morning sun; and the windows should be of wire, not glass, that they may enjoy the benefit of the air. The floor of the room should be kept clean, and sometimes there should be dry gravel or sand sifted upon it. There should also be two windows, one at each end, and several perches at proper distances for the birds to settle on as they fly backwards and forwards. A tree in the middle of the room would be the most convenient to divert the birds, and sometimes to serve for building their nests upon. In Germany they prepare a large room, and build it in the manner of a barn, being much longer than broad, with a square place at each end, and several holes to go into those square places. In these outlets they plant several sorts of trees, in which the birds take great delight to sing and breed. The bottom of the place they strew with sand, and upon it cast rapeseed, chickweed, and groundsel, which the old birds feed upon while breeding. In the body of the house they put all sorts of stuff for building the nest, and brooms, one under the other, in all the corners, for the birds to build in. These they separate by partitions from each other, to prevent those above flying down upon or otherwise incommoding such as breed below. The light is also excluded, for no bird is fond of having light come to its nest. With us the apparatus for breeding is less expensive; a little breeding cage sometimes suffices, but seldom anything more extensive than a small room. While the birds are pairing it is usual to feed them with soft meat-that is, bread, mawseed, a little scalded rapeseed, and near a third part of an egg. The room should be furnished with stuff for making their nests, such as fine hay, wool, cotton, and hair. These materials should be thoroughly dry, and then mixed and tied together in such a manner that the birds may readily pull out what they want. This should be hung in a proper part of the room, and the male will take his turn in building the nest, sitting upon the eggs, and feeding the young. They are generally two or three days in building their nests; the hen commonly lays five eggs; and in the space of fourteen days the young will be excluded. So prolific are these birds sometimes, that the female will be ready to hatch a second brood before the first are able to quit the nest. On these occasions she leaves the nest and the young to provide herself with another to lay her new brood in. In the meantime the male, more faithful to the duties of his trust, breeds up the young left behind, and fits them for a state of independence. When the young ones are excluded the old ones should be supplied with a sufficiency of soft food every day, as also with fresh greens, such as cabbage, lettuce, and chick-weed; in June, shepherd's purse; and in July and August, plantain. They are never to have groundsel after the young are excluded. With these different delicacies the old ones will take particular care to feed and bring up their young; but it is usual when they can feed themselves to be taken from the nest and put into cages. Their meat then is the yolk of an egg boiled hard, with an equal quantity of fine bread and a little scalded rapeseed: this must be bruised till it becomes fine, and then it may be mixed with a little mawseed; after which blend all together, which is to be supplied them fresh every day. The Canary-bird, by being kept in company with the linnet or the goldfinch, pairs and produces a mixed breed, more like the Canary-bird, and resembling it chiefly in its song. Indeed, all this tribe with strong bills and piercing notes, and feeding upon grain, have the most strong similitude to each other, and may justly be supposed, as Mr. Buffon imagines, to come from the same original. They all breed about the same timethey frequent the same vegetables-they build in the same hedges and trees-and are brought up for the cage with the same food and precautions. The linnet, bullfinch, and the goldfinch, when we know the history of the Canary-bird, have scarce any peculiarities that can attract our curiosity or require our care. The only art necessary with all those that have no very fine note is to breed them up under some more pleasing harmonist. The goldfinch learns a fine song from the night ingale; and the linnet and bullfinch may be taught, forgetting the wild notes of Nature, to whistle a long and regular tune. CHAP. V. OF THE SWALLOW AND ITS AFFINITIES. An idea of any one bird in the former classes will give us some tolerable conception of the rest. By knowing the linnet or the Canary-bird we have some notion of the manners of a goldfinch; by exhibiting the history of the nightingale, we see also that of the black-cap or the tit-mouse. But the swallow tribe seems to be quite different from all the former-different in their habits, and unlike in all the particulars of their history. In this tribe is to be found the goat-sucker, which may be styled a nocturnal swallow; it is the largest of this kind, and is known by its tail, which is not forked like that of the common swallow. It begins its flight at evening, and makes a loud singular noise, like the whir of a spinning-wheel. To this also belongs the house swallow, which is too well known to need a des ption; the martin, inferior in size to the former, and the tail much less forked; it differs also in the form of its nest, which is covered at top, while that of the house-swallow is open; and the swift, rather larger than the house-swallow, with all the toes standing forward, in which it differs from the rest of its kind. All these re semble each other so strongly, that it is not without difficulty the smaller kinds are known asunder. These are all known by their very large mouths, which when they fly are always kept open; they are not less remarkable for their short, slender feet, which are scarcely able to support the weight of their bodies: their wings are of immoderate extent for their bulk; their plumage is glossed with a rich purple; and their note is a slight twittering, which they seldom exert but when upon the wing. This peculiar conformation seems attended with a similar peculiarity of manners. Their food is insects, which they always pursue flying. For this reason, during fine weather, when the insects are most likely to be abroad, the swallows are for ever upon the wing, and are seen pursuing their prey with amazing swiftness and agility. All smaller animals in some measure find safety by winding and turning when they endeavour to avoid the greater: the lark thus evades the pursuit of the hawk, and man the crocodile. In this manner insects upon the wing endeavour to avoid the swallow; but this bird is admirably fitted by Nature to pursue them through their shortest turnings. Besides a great length of wing, it is also provided with a long tail, which, like a rudder, turns it in its most rapid motions; and thus, while it is possessed of the greatest swiftness, it is also possessed of the most extreme agility. Early, therefore, in the spring, when the returning sun begins to arouse the insect tribe from their annual state of torpidity-when the gnat and the beetle put off their earthly robes and venture into air, the swallow then is seen returning from its long migration beyond the ocean, and making its way feebly to the shore. At first, with the timidity of a stranger, it appears but seldom, and flies but slowly and heavily along. As the weather grows warmer and its insect supply increases, it then gathers greater strength and activity. But it sometimes happens that a rainy season, by repelling the insects, stints the swallow in its food; the poor bird is then seen slowly skimming along the surface of the ground, and often resting after the flight of a few minutes. In general, however, it keeps on the wing, moving with a rapidity that nothing can escape. When the weather is likely to be fair the insect tribe feel the genial influence, and make bolder flights; at that time the swallow follows them in their aërial journeys, and often rises to imperceptible heights in the pursuit. When the weather is likely to be foul the insects feel the first notices of it; and from the swallows following low we are often apprised of the approaching change. When summer is fairly begun, and more than a sufficient supply for sustaining the wants of nature everywhere offers, the swallow then begins to think of forming a progeny. The nest is built with great industry and art, particularly by the common swallow, which builds on the tops of chimneys. The martin sticks it to the eaves of the houses. The goat-sucker, as we are told, builds it on the bare ground. This nest is built with mud from some neighbouring brook, well tempered with the bill, and moistened with water for its better adhesion; it is still farther kept firm by long grass and fibres; within it is lined with goose-feathers, which are ever the warmest and the neatest. The martin covers its nest at top, and has a door to enter at; the swallow leaves hers quite open. But our European nests are nothing to be compared with those the swallow builds on the coasts of China and Coromandel, the description of which I will give in the plain, honest phrase of Willoughby. "On the sea-coast of the kingdom of China," says he " sort of party-coloured bird of the shape of swallows, at a certain season of the year, which is their breeding time, come out of the midland country to the rocks, and from the foam or froth of the sea-water, dashing against the bottom of the rocks, gather a certain claminy, gluti nous matter-perchance the spawn of whales or other fishes-of which they build their nests, wherein they lay their eggs and hatch their young. These nests the Chinese pluck from the rocks, and bring them in great numbers into the East Indies to sell. They are esteemed by gluttons as great delicacies, who, dissolving them in chicken or mutton broth, are very fond of them-far before oysters, mushrooms, or other dainty and liquorish morsels." What a pity this luxury has not been introduced among us, and then our great feasters might be enabled to eat a little more! The swallow usually lays from five to six eggs, of a white colour speckled with red, and sometimes breeds twice a-year. When the young brood are excluded the swallow supplies them very plentifully, the first brood particularly, when she finds herself capable of producing two broods in a year. This happens when the parents come early, when the season is peculiarly mild, and when they begin to pair soon. Sometimes they find a difficulty in rearing even a single nest, particularly when the weather has been severe, or their nests have been robbed in the beginning of the season, By these accidents this important task is sometimes deferred to the middle of September At the latter end of September they leave us, and, for a few days previous to their departure, assemble in vast flocks on house tops, as if deliberating on the fatiguing iourney that lays before them. This is no slight undertaking, as their flight is directed to Congo, Senegal, and along the whole Morocco shore. There are some, however, left behind in this general expedition that do not depart till eight or ten days after the rest. These are chiefly the later weakly brood, which are not yet in a condition to set out. They are sometimes even too feeble to venture till the setting in of winter; while their parents vainly exhort them to efforts which instinct assures them they are incapable of performing. Thus it often happens that the wretched little families, being compelled to stay, perish the first cold weather that comes; while the tender parents share the fate of their offspring, and die with their new-fledged brood. Those that migrate are first observed to arrive in Africa, as Mr. Adanson assures us, about the beginning of October. They are thought to have performed their fatiguing journey in the space of seven days. They are sometimes seen, when interrupted by contrary winds, wavering in their course far off at sea, and lighting upon whatever ship they find in their passage. They then seem spent with famine and fatigue; yet still they boldly venture when refreshed with a few hours' rest to renew their flight, and continue the course which they had been steering before. These are facts proved by incontestible authority; yet it is a doubt whether all swallows migrate in this manner, or whether they may not be some species of this animal that, though externally alike, are so internally different as to be very differently affected by the approach of winter. We are assured from many, and these not contemptible witnesses, that swallows hide themselves in holes under-ground, joined close together, bill against bill and feet against feet. Some inform us that they have seen them taken out of the water, and even from under the ice, in bunches, where they are asserted to pass the winter without motion. Reaumur, who particularly interested himself in this inquiry, received several accounts of bundles of swallows being thus found in quarries and under the water. These men, therefore, have a right to some degree of assent, and are not to lose all credit from our ignorance of what they aver. All, however, that we have hitherto dissected are formed within like other birds, and seem to offer no observable variety. Indeed, that they do not hide themselves under water has been pretty well proved by the noted experiment of Frisch, who tied several threads died in water-colours round the legs of a great number of swallows that were preparing for their departure : these, upon their return the ensuing summer, brought their threads back with them, no way damaged in their colour-which they most certainly would, if during the winter they had been steeped in water: yet still this is a subject on which we must suspend our assent, as Klein, the naturalist, has brought such a number of proofs in defence of his opinion that swallows are torpid in winter, as even the most incredulous must allow to have some degree of probability. OF THE SPARROW KIND. The "house-sparrow." It carries with it everywnere a bad reputation. It is much addicted to thieving, and is well known. The tree-sparrow." This bird in general appearance resembles the above, but is more lively and gayer. The field-sparrow." It has a note like the chirp of a cricket. It is one of the American finches-the smallest species. The song-sparrow" commences its song in the spring, and continues its sweet warblings during the summer. It is general in the United States. The goldfinch" is one of the most beautiful and best of our birds; it makes the orchard echo with its melodious song from early dawn of morning until sunset, which it continues to do until August, except the interruption occasioned by its young, which it feeds with the tender seeds of groundsel, lettuce, and other plants; and also insects. They have three broods, the last in August. It is very docile, and can be taught numerous tricks with great dexterity. The mules from the canary are more robust, and live longer than the goldfinch; their song is also more brilliant. In winter the goldfinches assemble and live in numerous flocks where endive and thistles grow, and in cold weather take shelter therein. tion of food keeps them in good health; millets, rapeseed, and a little hempseed mixed, will keep them in good health, but the quantities must be varied every time. This species is extended nearly throughout Europe, as also in parts of Africa and Asia.—(See vignette.) Varia The "sisken goldwing." It is a neat and tidy bird; the song is short, low, and unvaried, but not unpleasant.' The tail is forked and short. In character it resembles the common goldwing. Its food consists of the seeds of birch, elm, fir, alder, &c. It is said that it can imitate the linnet, canary, &c., when taken young and placed within hearing of these birds. The "common goldwing." This bird is very abundant in all parts of England, and few birds possess more beautiful plumage. Its song is lively and gay, and for sweetness surpassed by none. The eggs are five, of a pale blue, spotted at the larger end with black. The "chaff-fiuch." In the middle of March this bird commences its merry repeated strains, which consist of a single bar of short, rapid notes. In Germany it is one of the favourite song-birds, and highly valued here; nevertheless it is not worth caging. The "mountain-finch," or brambling," is about the size of the chaff-finch; it is a bird of handsome appearance, and is a native of northern climates.—(See engraving.) The "yellow-hammer," or "Bunting," bears a considerable resemblance to the corn-bunting. It has an unmelodious ditty, which is audible at a considerable distance, and is a most diligent songster.-(See engraving.) The "reed-bunting." It has a sweet blended note, It carols on the topmost sprig of a hedge. The eggs are four or five, streaked with dark-redish purple. The "ortolan-bunting" is very common in Italy and France, and is highly esteemed for the flavour of its flesh. It has never been known to visit this country |