174 HABITS OF BIRDS. 
branches where they were sitting. Yet we can im- 
agine, and have seen, cases in which young birds, 
being in confinement or in danger, have been soli- 
cited to shift their quarters with all the varied tones 
and movements of invitation, which are, in fact, 
identical with the tones used in feeding, and, to ail 
appearance, instinctively understood. It is thus we 
would explain the following interesting narrative, 
which proves that, had the author had opportunities 
for observation, he might have accomplished some- 
thing much superior to his very imperfect though 
well-planned compilation. 
‘When I was a boy,” says Smellie, “I carried 
off anest of young sparrows, about a mile from my 
place of residence. After the nest was completely 
removed, and while I was marching home with 
them in triumph, | perceived, with some degree of 
astonishment, both the parents following me at 
some distance, and observing my motions in per- 
fect silence. A thought then struck me that they 
might follow me home, and feed the young accord- 
ing to their usual manner. When just entering the 
door, I held up the nest, and made the young ones 
utter the cry expressive of the desire of food. I 
immediately put the nest and the young in the cor- 
ner of a wire cage, and placed it on the outside of 
a window. J chose a situation in the room where 
I could perceive all that should happen without be- 
ing myself seen. The young animals soon cried for 
food. In ashort time both parents, having their bills 
filled with small caterpillars, came to the cage; and 
after chatting a little, as we do with a friend through 
- the lattice of a prison, gave a small worm to each. 
This parental intercourse continued regularly for 
some time, till the young ones were completely 
fledged, and had acquired a considerable degree of 
strength. I then took one of the strongest of them 
and placed him on the outside of the cage, in order 
to observe the conduct of the parents after one of 
