208 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



when I state that there was a mass of flies, just 

 caught by this single swift, larger than when pressed 

 close, could conveniently be contained in the bowl of 

 an ordinary tablespoon *." 



The extraordinary affection exhibited by the parent 

 birds for their young is strikingly exemplified in the 

 instances recorded of their risking their own freedom 

 and safety by venturing into houses whither their 

 nestlings have been carried. We once witnessed an 

 instance of this in a pair of goldfinches, who were, 

 however, enticed by hanging the cage containing the 

 nestlings upon their native tree in an orchard, from 

 which it was gradually removed to the outside of a 

 window, and afterwards taken indoors, whither the 

 parent goldfinches followed and assiduously supplied 

 their young with food. No attempt was made to 

 catch the old ones ; yet with all their anxiety to sup- 

 ply the young with food, they took care, although the 

 window was left open for them, never to remain in the 

 room during the night, roosting always in an adjacent 

 tree in the orchard f. An interesting story of a 

 similar kind is told by Colonel Montagu respecting 

 the gold-crested wren (Regulus cristatus, RAY). 



"A pair," says he, u of these birds, who took pos- 

 session of a fir-tree in my garden, ceased their notes 

 as soon as the young were hatched; and as this 

 beautiful little family caused me much delight and 

 amusement, some observations thereon may not be 

 unacceptable to the curious reader. When first I 

 discovered the nest, I thought it a favourable oppor- 

 tunity to become acquainted with some of the manners 

 of this minute species, and to endeavour to discover 

 whether the male ever sung by way of instructing the 

 young ones. Accordingly I took the nest, when the 

 young were about six days old, placed it in a small 



* Rev. W. T. Bree, Map. Nat. Hist. iii. 37. 

 t J.R, 



