JT6 HABITS OP BIRDS. 



the black-caps, must have been wont to perform this 

 extensive migration to and from Africa as safely as 

 the more hardy cuckoo or the more swift-winged 

 swallow. During; the spring of 1831, the black-caps, 

 which we suppose to be the same birds, from their 

 keeping to the same place of nestling, were more than 

 usually late in arriving; for in another garden about 

 a mile off, there were young in the hereditary nest of 

 black-caps before our little neighbours made their 

 appearance from the South. When they did arrive, 

 their attention was immediately attracted by the un- 

 usual circumstance of hearing the loud song of a 

 rival in the vicinity of their premises. This was 

 a cock black-cap, which we had purchased the pre- 

 ceding autumn in the bird-market at Paris, and 

 which was daily hung out in his cage to enjoy the 

 fresh air and the sunshine, within a gun-shot of 

 their usual place of nestling. The wild birds did not 

 appear to like the little stranger at all ; and the cock 

 kept flying around the cage, alternately exhibiting 

 curiosity, fear, anger, defiance, and triumphant ex- 

 ultation. Sometimes he would flit from branch to 

 branch of the nearest tree, silently peeping into 

 the cage with the utmost eagerness ; all at once, 

 he would dart off to a great distance as if afraid that 

 he was about to be similarly imprisoned ; or getting 

 the better of his fears, he would perch on a con- 

 spicuous bough and snap his bill, calling check, 

 check, seemingly in a great passion ; again he would 

 sing his loudest notes by way of challenge, or per- 

 haps meaning to express his independence and 

 superiority. Our cage-bird, meanwhile, was by no 

 means a passive spectator of all this ; and never 

 failed, on the appearance of the other, to give voice to 

 his best song and to endeavour to out-sing him, since 

 he could not get at him to engage in personal con- 

 flict 



