886 MELIZOPHILUS PROVINCIALIS. 



via cinerea, but rather less, weighing only 22 grains. Like 

 the eggs of that species, they possess a slight tinge of green ; 

 they are fully freckled all over w^ith olivaceous-brovrn and cin- 

 ereous, on a greenish-white ground ; the markings becoming 

 more dense, and forming a zone at the larger end. 



" The young were taken when of the proper age, and fed with 

 grasshoppers, a mixture of bread and milk, chopped boiled 

 meat, and a little finely pounded hemp and rape seed. They 

 began to shew some of their mature feathers on each side of 

 the breast about the middle of August, when the sexes became 

 apparent. 



" The nestling attachment of these little birds was very con- 

 spicuous towards the dusk of the evening, for a long time after 

 they had forsaken the nest ; they became restless, and appar- 

 ently in search of a roosting place, flying about the cage for 

 half an hour, or until it was too dark to move with safety, 

 when a singular soft note was uttered by one which had chosen 

 a convenient spot for the night, at which instant they all as- 

 sembled, repeating the same plaintive cry. In this interesting 

 scene, as warmth was the object of all, a considerable bustle 

 ensued, in order to obtain an inward birth, those on the out- 

 side alternately perching upon the others and forcing in be- 

 tween them. During this confusion, which sometimes con- 

 tinued for a few minutes, the cuddling note was continually 

 emitted, and in an instant all was quiet. 



" Nothing can exceed the activity of these little creatures ; 

 they are in perpetual motion the whole day, throwing them- 

 selves into various attitudes and gesticulations, erecting the 

 crest and tail at intervals, accompanied by a double or triple 

 cry, which seems to express the words clia^ cha, cha. They 

 frequently take their food while suspended to the wires, with 

 their heads downwards, and not unusually turn over backwards 

 on the perch. The males, of which there were three out of 

 the four (a bird from another nest having been added), began 

 to sing with the appearance of their first mature feathers, and 

 continued in song all the month of October, frequently with 

 scarcely any intermission for several hours together. The 

 notes are entirely native, consisting of considerable variety, 



