253 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



weed down,* in some places softened with glutinous saliva 

 so as to be formed into coarse connecting shreds. The 

 round edge of the nest was made of coils of the wiry stolons 

 of a common Cinquefoil,t then lined with exceedingly fine 

 root fibres ; over the whole, to give elasticity, were laid fine 

 stalks of a slender Jiincus or minute rush. In these nests 

 the eggs were, as described by Wilson (except as to form), 

 marked with smaller and more numerous spots than the 

 preceding. From the lateness of the autumn, at which 

 period incubation is still going on, it would appear that this 

 species is very prolific, and must have at least two hatches 

 in the season ; for as late as the 7th of September a brood, 

 in this vicinity, were yet in the nest. The period of sit- 

 ting is about 15 or 16 days, and while the young are still 

 helpless, it is surprising to witness the silence of the pa- 

 rents, uttering no cries, nor making any approaches to 

 those who may endanger or jeopard the safety of their 

 brood ; still they are flying round, and silently watching 

 the dreaded result, and approach the nest the moment the 

 intruder disappears. They feed the young, at first, with 

 insects and smooth catterpillars, but at the end of the 

 3d or 4th day they are fed, like the old ones, almost ex- 

 clusively on sweet and juicy fruits, such as whortle and 

 service berries, wild and cultivated cherries, &c. A 

 young bird from one of the nests described, in the Hem- 

 lock, was thrown upon my protection, having been by 

 some means ejected from his cradle. In this critical situ- 

 ation however he had been well fed or rather gorged with 

 berries, and was merely scratched by the fall he had re- 

 ceived. Fed on cherries and mulberries, he was soon 

 well fledged, while his mate in the nest was suffered to 

 perish by the forgetfulness of his natural protectors. 

 Coeval with the growth of his wing-feathers, were already 



* Gnaphalium plantagineum. f PotmUlla simplex. 



