98 Mr. J. Blackwall on the Manners of the 



in short, so complete is the metamorphosis, (the bill itself un- 

 dergoing a change of colour,) that its specific identity would 

 be called in question by any person unacquainted with these 

 particulars in its history. It is probable, therefore, that the 

 black plumage on the throat may indicate maturity, or it may 

 conveniently be ascribed to the influence of circumstances 

 which in our ignorance we term accidental. 



Another fact, tending to corroborate the opinion that this 

 bird is a male, deserves consideration ; it has a song, and a 

 most extraordinary one it is. Elevating the brilliant red fea- 

 thers on the back of its neck, and raisif^ itself on its perch till 

 it assumes an attitude so perpendicular that it appears to be 

 in danger of falling backward, it commences its \ny by utter- 

 ing one or two sharp chirps, which are followed bv a chattering 

 sound produced by the hurried repetition of the same note ; 

 to this succeeds a sort of snapping noise similar to that occa- 

 sioned by bringing the open mandibles into sudden contact ; 

 and the finale consists of a protracted sound, enforced with 

 considerable emphasis at regular intervals, somewhat resem- 

 bling the sibilation which results from the grinding^ of scissars. 

 Mr. Audubon, the celebrated American ornithologist, who 

 saw this bird when he was last in Manchester, compared the 

 concluding part of its song to the sound produced by the 

 brisk agitation of the tail of the rattlesnake. While pouring 

 forth its discordant strains, this grotesque vocalist frequently 

 raises its wings, expands them in a slight degree, and again 

 brings them into their ordinary position of repose. It also 

 approaches slowly towards any of its companions in captivity 

 which happen to occupy the same perch with itself, and en- 

 deavours to touch them with its bill, as if it were desirous to 

 elicit their attention in particular to its strange music, which, 

 in conjunction with its fierce deportment, has usually the effect 

 of exciting consternation in that portion of its audience. 



For the purpose of calling into action one of the most sin- 

 gular instincts with which this bird is endowed, Mr. Garside 

 supplied it with a little thread. No sooner had it obtained 

 the prize than a Dominican Grosbeak {Loxia domhiicana, 

 Linn.) hastened to dispute its right of possession. Erecting 

 the feathers on the back of its neck, and uttering a few angry 

 chirps, the Grenadier Grosbeak threw itself into one of its most 

 menacing attitudes, in order to intimidate the insolent ag- 

 gressor; but, notwithstanding all these formidable indications 

 of resistance, it was compelled to yield the object of conten- 

 tion to its more powerful adversary, which after carrying it 

 about the cage for a short time became tired of the amuse- 

 ment and suffered it to drop, when it was instantly seized by 



the 



