and some other British Birds. 195 



two drams and a quarter each. At this time they collectively 

 ate in one day upwards of five drams of grasshoppers, which is 

 one dram and a quarter each, so that in two days each consumed 

 more than its own weight. Such a repletion is almost incredi- 

 ble, and doubtless greatly beyond what the parent birds could 

 usually supply them with, which by observation appeared to 

 consist of variety, and not unfrequently small phaleme: their 

 growth, however, was in proportion to this large supply of food. 



This interesting little family began to throw out some of their 

 mature feathers on each side of the breast about the middle of 

 August, and the sexes became apparent. At this time they had 

 forsaken their grasshopper food, feeding by choice on the soft 

 victuals before mentioned. 



The nestling attachment is very conspicuous in these little 

 birds towards the dusk of the evening, for a long time after they 

 have forsaken the nest; they become restless, and apparently 

 are in search of a roosting place, flying about the cage for half 

 an hour, or until it is too dark to move with safety, when a sin- 

 gular soft note -is uttered by one which has chosen a convenient 

 spot for the night, at which instant they all assemble, repeating 

 the same plaintive cry. In this interesting scene, as warmth is 

 the object of all, a considerable bustle is observed, in order to 

 obtain an inward birth, those on the outside perching upon the 

 others, and forcing in between them : during this confusion, 

 which sometimes continues for a few minutes, the cuddling note 

 is continually emitted, and in an instant all is quiet. 



Nothing can exceed the activity of these little creatures ; they 

 ■arc in perpetual motion the whole day, throwing themselves 

 into various attitudes and gesticulations, erecting the crest and 

 tail at intervals, accompanied by a double or triple cry, which 

 seems to express the words cha, cha, cha. They frequently 

 take their food suspended by the wires, with their head down- 



2 C 2 wards, 



