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 aMvocation 

 to battle on the sight of another male ;e 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- 



