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 all 

 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 a nest 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, I 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. I 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 a short 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 



