THE NONPAREIL. 103 



and neck, a red circle round the eyes, the iris brown, 

 the beak and feet brown, the upper part of the back 

 yellowish-green, the lower part of the back, and the 

 throat, chest, and whole under part of the body, as 

 well as the upper tail-coverts, of a bright red ; the 

 wing-coverts are green, the quills reddish-brown 

 tinged with green ; the tail is reddish-brown. He is 

 about the size of the English robin, and very much 

 resembles that bird in his attitudes and character- 

 istics ; and his song, though not powerful, is very 

 agreeable. He is fed upon canary and millet seed, 

 and is exceedingly fond of flies and spiders, which he 

 ought to have to keep him in health. If I offer him 

 one, he darts across the cage to seize it, and takes it 

 from my hand fearlessly ; and, when allowed to fly 

 about the room, will catch flies for himself, either 

 pouncing upon them in the window, or taking them 

 on the wing in the course of a rapid dash across the 

 room. He is a sociable bird, and very inquisitive, 

 hopping about on the table, and examining every- 

 thing he sees ; and, when tired of his sudden flights 

 about the room, will go to a vase of flowers placed 

 before a mirror, and warble away to his image re- 

 flected in the glass. This bird is very fond of bath- 

 ing, and should therefore be daily provided with a 

 bath ; but, when allowed to fly about a room, care 

 must be taken not to leave a pitcher, or any large 

 vessel with water, within his reach, as he is very apt 

 to attempt to bathe, and might get drowned. 



