8 General Notes. 



had two objects in view: first, to observe their style of plumage during the 

 summer months, and, secondly, if possible, to induce them to breed and 

 rear their young. Imagine my delight, when I found that in a few days 

 they not only became accustomed to their narrow quarters, but apparently 

 thoroughly satisfied and happy. Flocks of their companions passing over 

 were certain to be called down, to alight on the fences, the ground, and 

 in fact everything in the neighborhood of the cage, to even the cage itself. 

 Their plumage at this time of year seemed to be almost in a perfect state, 

 all the colorings being very dark. My captives were fed upon canary seed, 

 flax seed, finely cracked wheat, and, later in the year, lettuce, and 

 other tender leaves. As the sods at the bottom of the cage were often 

 entirely removed, they no doubt obtained also many insects. Every 

 morning as I approached the cage, a general and impatient chattering 

 commenced for their breakfast and bath, and they immediately availed 

 themselves of both in my presence; and often I deluged the entire thing. 

 birds and all, with a large watering-pot, they enjoying this sprinkling 

 immensely. Later in the spring this part of the programme was followed 

 by their mounting to the upper cage, pluming themselves in the sun. 

 chattering among themselves, and the males giving utterance to a low. 

 subdued, and plaintive sort of a song, being different from the shrill 

 whistle they gave to attract the attention of their passing fellows outside. 



By the middle of May, all the birds of this species had entirely left the 

 country; the spring migration was thoroughly inaugurated, and the 

 weather was becoming very warm. Swallows were breeding and many 

 other birds were evidently thinking of doing likewise. I now made their 

 home as attractive as possible, by every means that my imagination could 

 invent. Nests of birds of about their own size that built on the ground were 

 introduced into the secluded nooks of their breeding cage, but these they 

 invariably pulled to pieces the very day I placed them there. In short, 

 by the middle of June I had abandoned all hope of their breeding and 

 during their entire confinement there never seemed any evidence of their 

 pairing, or having the least desire, like sensible birds, of resorting to the 

 business of the season. 



By the first of July, they were as gentle as any cage birds I ever saw; 

 they would pick seed out of one's hand, and alight on your finger, if you 

 quietly introduced it between the bars; in fact, they were all that any one 

 could desire in the way of cage pets. On the ioth of July, I opened the 

 doors of their little prison and allowed them all to escape, as they had 

 suffered intensely from the heat for several days; the sudden exercise was 

 rather too much for one or two of them, and they were readily retaken 

 but only to be kept until the cool of the evening. The brilliancy of their 

 plumage seemed to be at its acme in the early part of May; at the time 

 of their release it was in all of them many shades paler. On several occa- 

 sions during the summer they were seen about the post, usually one at a 

 time, so I am quite confident they never made the attempt to either breed 

 that season or to follow their companions to the northward. — R. W. 

 Shufeldt, ist Lt. Med. Deft. U. S. Army, Fort Fetterman. Wyoming. 



