194 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



they would come near the cage ; and, when they at length 

 did so, it was not to alight upon it till after many comings 

 and goings, now flickering around it, then flying off again. 

 In time, however, they got over their shyness, afterwards 

 showing less timidity than had the pipit. But a more 

 remarkable difference was in both the parent birds coming 

 after their offspring, and both bringing them food the 

 one as often and as much as the other. When either 

 drew near, the caged youngsters would commence flap- 

 ping their wings, giving utterance to a note not unlike 

 the chirrup of young sparrows when near leaving the nest. 

 Altogether different was that of the old birds as they 

 made approach, being soft and plaintive ; for it was only 

 put forth when some one drew near the cage, and they 

 supposed there was danger. 



But the most notable difference I observed between 

 these two birds of distinct genera was in the mode of 

 feeding their young. While the pipit, as already said, 

 brought the caterpillers in her beak, and transferred them 

 direct and living to that of the nestling, the finches 

 carried whatever food they had for theirs in the crop; 

 thence delivering it somewhat after the manner of pigeons. 

 In all their comings and goings, I could see nothing in 

 their bills, either bud or grub. Moreover, their intervals 

 of absence were more prolonged; as though from having 

 the means of carrying a greater quantity it had taken 

 more time to forage after and collect it. I noticed, how- 

 ever, that the pipit frequently brought back two cater- 

 pillars at a time, and once three, all of different species, 

 as I could tell by their diversity in size, as in colour. 



