316 BLUE-BIRD 



it up, flies with it to her, spreads his wing over her and puts 

 " it in her mouth."* If a rival makes his appearance, (for they 

 are ardent in their loves), he quits her in a moment, attacks 

 and pursues the intruder, as he shifts from place to place, in 

 tones that bespeak the jealousy of his affection, conducts him 

 with many reproofs beyond the extremities of his territory, and 

 returns to warble out his transports of triumph beside his be- 

 loved mate. The preliminaries being thus settled, and the spot 

 fixed on, they begin to clean out the old nest, and the rubbish 

 of the former year, and to prepare for the reception of their 

 future offspring. Soon after this another sociable little pilgrim 

 (Motacilladomestica, House Wren), also arrives from the south, 

 and finding such a snug birth pre-occupied, shows his spite, by 

 watching a convenient opportunity, and in the absence of the 

 owner popping in and pulling out sticks; but takes special care 

 to make off as fast as possible. 



The female lays five, and sometimes six, eggs, of a pale blue 

 colour; and raises two, and sometimes three broods in a season; 

 the male taking the youngest under his particular care while the 

 female is again sitting. Their principal food are insects, particu- 

 larly large beetles, and others of the coleopterous kinds that lurk 

 among old dead and decaying trees. Spiders are also a favourite 

 repast with them. In fall they occasionally regale themselves on 

 the berries of the sour gum; and as winter approaches, on those 

 of the red cedar, and on the fruit of a rough hairy vine that runs 

 up and cleaves fast to the trunks of trees. Ripe persimmons 

 is another of their favourite dishes; and many other fruits and 

 seeds which I have found in their stomachs at that season, which, 

 being no botanist, I am unable to particularize. They are fre- 

 quently pestered with a species of tape-worm, some of which I 

 have taken from their intestines of an extraordinary size, and 

 in some cases in great numbers. Most other birds are also 

 plagued with these vermin; but the Blue-bird seems more sub- 

 ject to them than any I know, except the Woodcock. An ac- 

 count of the different species of vermin, many of which I doubt 



* Letter from Mr. William Bartram to the author, 



