498 GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 



when molested, or mounting the low boughs of some or- 

 chard tree or shrub, utters a quickly articulated ascend- 

 ing Ush 'tsh 'tsh 'tsh 'tsh tshe tshe, almost like the jing- 

 ling of farthings, and a little resembling the faint war- 

 ble of the Canary, but without any of its variety or loud- 

 ness. This note, such as it is, is continued often for half 

 an hour at a time, but is little louder than the chirping 

 of a cricket, and uttered by the male while attending his 

 brooding mate. For many weeks, through the summer, 

 and during fine weather, this note is often given from 

 time to time in the night like the reverie of a dream. 



The nest of tlie Chipping Bird varies sometimes con- 

 siderably in its materials and composition. The external 

 layer, seldom so thick, but that it may be readily seen 

 through, is composed of dry stalks of withered grass, and 

 lined more or less with horse or cow hair. The eggs 

 are 4 and 5, of a bright though not deep greenish-blue 

 color, with a few spots of dark and lighter brown chiefly 

 disposed at the greater end. They are usually narrowed 

 considerably at the small end, though occasionally they 

 are almost oblong. The Cuckoo destroys many eggs of 

 this timid, harmless, and sociable little bird, as their 

 nests are readily discovered, and numerous ; on such oc- 

 casions, the little sufferer expresses great and unusual 

 anxiety for the security of her charge, and after being 

 repeatedly robbed, the female sits closely sometimes up- 

 on perhaps only two eggs, desirous at any rate to escape, 

 if possible, with some of her little offspring. 



Towards the close of summer, the parents and their 

 brood are seen busily engaged collecting seeds and in- 

 sects, in the neighbouring fields and lanes, and now be- 

 come so numerous, as the autumn advances, that, flitting 

 before the path on either side as the passenger proceeds, 

 they almost resemble the falling leaves of the season. 



