THE BOHEMIAN CHATTERER. IHO 



tips of the wings are of a yellowish white ; lastly, the horny 

 appendages are small, and often they do not appear at all. 



Habitation "When wild it does not build in Germany, but within the 



Arctic circle; it is found in Thuringia only in tlie winter, and if the season 

 ;s inild in very small numbers, the greater portion remaining in the north; 

 but in severe cold it advances farther south. In moderate seasons it is 

 found in gieat flights in the skirts of the-forests throughout the greater part 

 of Germany and Bohemia. 



In confinement, it is generally kept in a grated corner, where it may run 

 about freely with the other birds which are also placed there, taking care 

 to keep it at a distance from the stove, the heat of which is so distressing 

 that it opens its beak and breathes with difficulty; this proves that a warm 

 climate .is not congenial to the bird. If kept in a cage, it requires one as 

 large as the thrush ; and, as it is a very dirty bird, the bottom must be 

 regularly covered with a sufficient quantity of sand. 



Food. — When wild we s^e it in the spring eating, like thrushes, all sorts 

 of flies and other insects; in autumn and winter different kinds of berries; 

 and, in times of need, the buds and sprouts of the beech, maple, and various 

 fruit trees. 



In confinement the two universal pastes appear delicacies to it ; and it 

 is even satisfied with bran steeped in water. It swallows every thing vora- 

 ciously, and refuses nothing eatable, such as potatoes, cabbage, salad, fruits 

 of all sorts, and especially white bread. It likes to bathe, or rather to 

 sprinkle itself with water, for it does not wet itself so much as other birds. 



Mode of Taking. — It is taken in nooses, to which berries are fixed, 

 •which, for this purpose, should always be kept in store till Febi'uary; at- 

 tracted by the bait it falls into the snare. It appears to be friglitened at 

 nothing, for it flies into nets and traps, though it sees its companions caught 

 and hanging, and uttering cries of distress and fear. 



Attractive Qualities. — Nothing but its beauty and scarcity can ren- 

 der the possession of it desirable ; for it is a stupid, lazy bird. During the 

 ten or twelve years that it can exist in confinementj and on very meagre 

 food, it does nothing but eat and repose for digestion. If hunger induces it 

 to move, its step is awkward, and its jumps so clumsy as to be disagreeable 

 to the eye. Its song consists only of weak and uncertain whistling, a little 

 resembling the thrush, but not so loud. While singing, it moves the crest 

 up and down, but hardly moves the throat. If this warbling is somewhat 

 unmusical, it has the merit of continuing throughout every season of the 

 year. When the Bohemian chatterer is angry, Avhich happens sometimes 

 near the common feeding-trough, it knocks very violently with its beak. 

 ft is easily tamed, but is agreeable only by its beautiful colours, for it is 

 very dirty. It is the greatest eater among birds that I know, being able to 

 devour in a day a quantity of food equal to its own weight. It conse- 

 quently passes hardly half digested, and, what is very disgusting, it is seen, 

 like the ostrich, to eat again this excrement, if it is destitute of fresh food 

 I have observed it in this way swallow three times juniper berries which 

 1 had irlven it. In consequence of this voraciousness it must be cleaned 

 very often to be kept swrcf. 



