162 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



to a cage on her eggs, on which, with resoltue and fatal 

 instinct, she remained faithfuly sitting until she expired. 

 The Baltimore bird, though naturally shy and suspicious, 

 probably for greater security from more dangerous enemies, 

 generally chooses for his ne.st the largest and tallest spread- 

 ing trees near farm-houses, and along frequented lanes and 

 roads ; and trusting to the inaccessiblenss of his ingenious 

 mansion, he works fearlessly, and scarcely studies con- 

 cealment. But, as soon as the young are hatched, here, 

 towards the close of June, the whole family begin to leave 

 the immediate neighbourhood of their cares, flit through 

 the woods, a shy, roving, and nearly silent train ; and 

 when ready for the distant journey before them, about the 

 end of August or beginning of September, the whole at 

 once disappear ; and probably arrive, as with us, amidst 

 the forests of South America, in a scattered flock, and 

 continue, like Starlings, to pass the winter in celibacy, 

 wholly engaged in gleaning a quiet subsistence until the 

 return of spring. Then, incited by instinct to prepare 

 for a more powerful passion, they again wing their 

 way to the regions of the north ; where, but for this won- 

 derful providential instinct of migration, the whole race 

 would perish in a single season. As the sexes usually 

 arrive in different flocks, it is evident, that the conjugal 

 tie ceases at the period of migration, and the choice of 

 mates is renewed with the season ; during which the 

 males carry on their jealous disputes with much obstina- 

 cy. From the similarity in the circumstances of mating 

 among most other migratory birds, it would appear that 

 they obey the same law, depending on the transitory na- 

 ture of the sexual feeling, which in autumn is nearly an- 

 nihilated. 



