MA Y MUSES 87 



and that the arbitrary unmating of birds and 

 binding them with fresh connubial ties, as is so 

 commonly effected by fanciers, causes a great 

 wrong to be done to the birds, who, nevertheless, 

 are instinctively honourable to the new obligations 

 enforced upon them, and can be trusted to mix 

 freely with former mates, when nobler man, in the 

 same situation, would often sever present ties for 

 the sake of the past. 



Returning to wild birds, my opportunities have 

 been too limited to enable me to generalise ; but 

 the following observations may be not without 

 value to those who try to see in the bird a sen- 

 tient and tender being. 



A few days after the arrival of the spotted fly- 

 catcher, a pair of them were in a near tree. The 

 male often attempted a song, and was evidently 

 following the female. He suddenly went forth on 

 a longer journey than usual, as though for a larger 

 insect, turned and went to the female, and in the 

 gentlest manner presented to her the captured 

 insect, which appeared to be of the size of a bee. 

 She took it sedately. Shortly after, she received 

 another gift of the same kind. A second pair of 



