516 AVES— BLUE-BIRD. 



most difficult and inaccessible places for its residence; it likewise builds in 

 forests, in holes of trees, or in high and dangerous precipices. The female 

 lays four or five eggs, not much unlike those of the hedge-sparrow, but 

 somewhat longer. Should she discover that they have been touched, she 

 immediately forsakes them. These birds feed on flies, spiders, the eggs of 

 ants, small berries, soft fruits, and such like. If taken when old, it is im- 

 possible to tame the redstart, but if caught young, and kept warm during 

 the winter, it may be domesticated, and will pour forth its song, by night as 

 well as by day, with great sweetness and freedom. 



THE BLUE-BIRD.' 



The blue-bird is one of the first messengers of spring, and meets with a 

 hearty welcome from every body. He appears as early as February, and is 

 seen with his mate reconnoitering the leaf in the garden, and the hole in the 

 apple tree, the cradles of some generations of his ancestors. They then 

 begin to clear out the old nest, and to prepare for the reception of their 

 future offspring. Soon after this, another sociable little pilgrim arrives from 

 the south, and finding such a snug birth pre-occupied, shows his spite, bv 

 watching a convenient opportunity, and, in the absence of the owner, pops 

 in and pulls out the sticks ; but takes especial care to make off as fast as 

 possible. 



Their principal food is insects and beetles, and sometimes spiders. In the 

 tall they feed on berries, fruits, and seeds. The usual spring and summer 

 song of this bird, is a soft, agreeable and oft-repeated warble, uttered with 

 open quivering wings, and is extremely pleasing. In his motions and charac- 

 ter he resembles the redbreast of Britain, and like him he is known to 

 almost every child. He is of a mild and peaceful disposition, seldom quar- 

 relling with other birds. His society is courted in the country, and few 

 farmers neglect to provide for him, in some suitable place, a snug little 

 summer-house, ready fitted and rent free. For this he more than sufficiently 

 repays them by the cheerfulness of his song and the multitude of injurious 

 insects which he destroys. Towards fall, his song changes to a single plain- 

 tive note, as he passes over the yellow and many-colored woods ; and its 

 melancholy air recalls to our minds the approaching decay of the face of 

 nature. Even after the trees are stripped of their leaves, he still lingers 

 over his native fields, as if loth to leave them. Indeed he appears scarcely 

 ever totally to forsake us, as with every return of mild and open weather, 

 we hear his plaintive note amidst the fields, or in the air, seeming to deplore 

 the devastation of winter. 



The blue-bird is six inches and three quarters long; the wings are remar- 



Sylvia sialis, Wilson. 



