342 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



him, from this note, Pee-pee-tshu. They often also 

 utter a loud echoing 'kk 'kh 'kh, and sometimes chip in 

 a high or slender tone when alarmed, and with an affec- 

 tation of anger sharply flirt the tail and ends of the 

 wings. They raise several broods in a season, and 

 considerable numbers flock together in the latter end of 

 summer and autumn. When feeding on cherries, poke, 

 sassafras, and sour-gum berries, they are so intent as to 

 be easily approached and shot down in numbers ; and 

 when fat, are justly esteemed for food, and often brought 

 to market. In the spring they frequently descend to the 

 ground in quest of worms and insects, which then consti- 

 tute their principal support. 



They are commonly brought up in the cage, and seem 

 very docile and content. They sing well, readily learn to 

 imitate lively parts of tunes, and some have been taught 

 to pipe forth psalms even to so dull and solemn a measure 

 as that of " Old Hundred" ! They acquire also a consid- 

 erable taste for mimicry, imitating the notes of most of 

 the birds around them, such as the Blue-bird, Pewee, 

 Whip-poor-will, and others. On being approached with 

 the finger, they usually make some show of anger by 

 cracking and snapping the bill. At times they become 

 very tame, and will go in and out of the house with do- 

 mestic confidence, feel uneasy when left alone, and on 

 such occasions, have sometimes the sagacity of calling 

 attention by articulating endearing words, as pretty, 

 pretty, &lc. connecting, apparently with these expres- 

 sions, their general import of attentive blandishment. 

 They become almost naked in the moulting season, in 

 which they appear to suff'er considerably, yet have been 

 known to survive for 17 years or upwards. The rufous 

 color of the breast becomes deeper in those birds which 

 thus live in confinement. Their principal song is in the 



