190 HABITS OF BIRDS. 
the females arrive. No sooner do they make their 
appearance than dreadful battles ensue, and their 
notes are considerably changed; sometimes their 
song is hurried through without the usual grace and 
elegance, at other times modulated into a soothing 
melody. The first we conceive to be a provocation 
to battle on the sight of another male; the last, an 
amorous cadence or courting address. This varie- 
ty of song lasts no longer than till the female is fixed 
in her choice, which is, in general, in a few days 
after her arrival; and, if the season is favourable, 
she soon begins the task allotted to her sex. 
‘The male now no more exposes himself to sing 
as before, nor are his songs heard so frequently or 
so loud; but while she is searching for a secure 
place to build her nest in, he is no less assiduous in 
attending her with ridiculous gestures, accompanied 
with notes peculiarly soft. When the female has 
chosen a place for nidification, the male constantly 
attends her flight to and from the place, and sits 
upon some branch near, while his mate instinctively 
places the small portion of material she each time 
brings to rear a commodious fabric for her intended 
brood. When the building is complete and she has 
laid her portion of eggs, incubation immediately 
takes place. The male is now heard loud again, 
but not near so frequently as at first ; he never ram- 
bles from her hearing, and seldom from her sight ; 
if she leaves her nest, he soon perceives it, and pur- 
sues her, sometimes accompanied with soft notes 
of love. When the callow brood appears, he is in- 
stantly apprized of it, either by instinct, or by the 
female carrying away the fragment shells to some 
distant place. The male is now no more heard in 
tuneful glee, unless a second brood should force the 
amorous song again; his whole attention is now 
taken up in satisfying the nutrimental calls of his 
tender infant race, which he does with no less as- 
siduity than his mate, carrying them food, and re- 
