CHATTERERS. 113 



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 that of the Thrush, but not so loud. 

 While singing it moves the crest, but hardly 

 moves the throat. If this warbling is somewhat 

 unmusical, it has the merit of continuing through- 

 out every season of the year. When angry, which 

 happens sometimes near the common feeding- 

 trough, it knocks very violently with its beak. 

 It is readily tamed." The same writer remarks 

 that the two kinds of univeral paste appear de- 

 licacies to it ; and that it is satisfied even with 

 bran steeped in water. It swallows every thing 

 voraciously, and refuses nothing eatable, such as 

 potatoes, cabbage, salad, fruit of all kinds, and 

 especially white bread. 



The Chatterer is easily taken by means of 

 nooses, to which mellow berries are attached. It 

 is not deterred from rushing into nets and 

 springes, even by the sight of its companions 

 entrapped and hanging in the nooses, uttering 

 cries of distress. The flesh is esteemed as deli- 

 cate and well-flavoured. 



Nothing whatever is known of the domestic 

 economy of these birds, either in the Old or 

 the New World. They certainly have never 

 been known to breed in any part of Europe, 

 where indeed they are seen only in winter. Cen- 

 tral Asia is supposed to be the scene of their 

 summer residence, and the bringing up of their 

 family. The kindred species of the United 

 States (A. Carolinensis, BRISS.), however, builds 



