TRAINING OF YOUNG BIRDS, 219 



goldfinches (Carduelis elegant, STEPHENS), perched 

 on an apple-tree and chirruping in chorus, that, 

 when the watchful parents warned them of our 

 approach, they did not fly towards them for pro- 

 tection, but instantly ceased to chirrup, squatting 

 close to the branches where they were sitting. Yet 

 we can imagine, and have seen, cases in which 

 young birds, being in confinement or in danger, have 

 been solicited to shift their quarters with all the 

 varied tones and movements of invitation, which are 

 in fact identical with the tones u&ed in feeding, and, 

 to all appearance, instinctively understood*. It is 

 thus We would explain the following interesting narra- 

 tive, which proves that had the author had oppor- 

 tunities for observation he might have accomplished 

 something 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 riest was completely 

 removed, and while I was marching home with them 

 in triumph, I perceived with some degree of asto- 

 nishment, both the parents following me at some 

 distance, and observing my motions in perfect silence. 

 A thought then struck me that they might follow me 

 home, and feed the young according to their usual 

 manner. When just entering the door I held up the 

 nest, and made the young ones utter the cry expres- 

 sive of the desire of food. I immediately put the 

 nest and the young in the corner 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 being myself seen. The 

 young animals soon cried for food. In a short time 

 both parents, having their bills rilled with small ca- 

 terpillars, came to the cage ; and after chatting a 

 * J.R. 



