Grenadier Grosbeak (Loxia Oryx, Limi.) when in Captivity. 99 



the vigilant Grenadier Grosbeak. This was the signal for a 

 renewal of hostilities, and several species of Fringillce and 

 Loxice ]omed eagei'ly in the affray; while a few grave-looking 

 birds belonging to the genera Palccornis, Plaiijcercus^ and 

 Psittacula, sat on the upper perches passive spectators of the 

 turbulent scene below. At length, by dint of perseverance, 

 the Grenadier Grosbeak again succeeded in gaining possession 

 of the thread, one extremity of which it immediately pro- 

 ceeded to attach to the wires of the cage. After accomplish- 

 ing its object by the employment of the bill alone, it passed 

 the other end of the thread through one of the intervals be- 

 tween the wires, directing it towards the adjoining interval on 

 the right; then quitting hold of it and inserting its bill into 

 the latter interval, it again seized the thread near its extremity, 

 drew it through the opening, and pulled it tight. In this 

 manner it interwove the whole of the thread among the wires 

 of the cage with a quickness and dexterity quite surprising, 

 and so delighted was the feathered operative with this en- 

 grossing occupation, that it repeatedly demolished its work 

 and renewed it again, varying the direction it gave to the 

 thread as the circumstances of the case seemed to require, the 

 principal object in view, apparently, being the production of 

 a compact tissue. If supplied with a sufficient quantity of 

 thread, Mr. Garside assured me that this industrious bird 

 would speedily cover the sides of the cage with its ingenious 

 work; and so indefatigable is it in procuring materials for the 

 prosecution of its labours, which are not restricted to any par- 

 ticular season of the year, but are pursued even in winter 

 when it has assumed the garb of the female, that Mr. Garside 

 has been under the necessity of removing a beautiful male 

 Whidah bird [Vidua paradiscea, Cuvier) into another cage, 

 in order to preserve the long feathers of its tail from the in- 

 juries to which they were liable, in consequence of the inces- 

 sant efforts of the Grenadier Grosbeak to appropriate them 

 to its purpose. When about to be attacked by another bird, 

 the Grenadier Grosbeak sometimes interlaces the anterior 

 toes of one of its feet with the thread, the better to secure it ; 

 by which contrivance its bill is left at liberty to repel the ma- 

 raudei". 



Nothing satisfactory appears to be known concerning the 

 nidification of this species of Grosbeak. If, as Dr. Latham 

 conjectures, (Gen. Hist, of Birds, vol. v. p. 223,) it is identical 

 with Kolben's Finch, it constructs a nest of small twigs close- 

 ly interwoven with cotton, and so compact as not to be pene- 

 trated by the weather; but I am not aware that these birds 

 have been ascertained to be specifically the same. The only 

 O 2 information 



