ally, bu 



YELLOW-HAMMER. 39 



y, but rarely, of insects and worms. They consume a 

 considerable quantity of corn in the farm-yard, clinging on to 

 the outside of the stack, and frequently pulling out the long 

 straws, winnowing the ears, and devouring the grain either 

 on the spot, or at some little distance to which they have 

 flown with it. 



The note, which may be heard so early as February, is 

 usually two or more chirps, followed by a harsher one in a 

 higher key, 'chit, chit, chirr,' and these at rather lengthened 

 intervals. The bird generally utters it when perched on the 

 outer or topmost spray or bough of a hedge or a tree. When 

 a large flock is disturbed in winter from a farm-yard, and 

 alight in a body on any neighbouring trees, a great clamour 

 is sometimes raised, and the twittering continued for a con- 

 siderable time, as if all the individuals were holding a 'con- 

 versazione' together, and each wished to have his say on the 

 subject, which, however interesting to them it may be, is a 

 puzzle to the ornithologist even to guess the purport of; all 

 on a sudden a few, first one and then another, glide down 

 again from the trees, followed presently by the whole party; 

 the conversation is over, the forage recommenced, the associ- 

 ation in the mind which recalled some long since 'by gone 

 hour' is dispelled, and conjecture as to the meaning of the 

 language just heard is left in its previous uncertainty. Meyer 

 relates of a tame Yellow-hammer which he had, that it dis- 

 played considerable powers of ventriloquism. 



Towards the beginning of April, the associations of winter 

 are broken up, and those of summer are made. 



The nest, which is rather bulky, is usually placed either 

 on or very near to the ground, on a bank, or sheltered by 

 some bush, among the twigs, or in a clump of grass, or tuft 

 of other herbage. The late William Thompson, Esq., of 

 Belfast, knew one in the middle of a field; he also relates 

 that in the garden of a friend of his near Belfast, a pair of 

 these birds built their nest at the edge of a gravel-walk, and 

 brought out four young, three of which being destroyed, the 

 nest was removed with the fourth one for greater safety to 

 a bank a few feet distant, and the old birds still kept to it, 

 and completed the education of their last nestling. The nest 

 is formed of moss, small roots, small sticks, and hair, tolerably 

 well compacted together; the finer parts of the materials being 

 of course inside. Mr. Black wall mentions in the first volume 

 of the 'Zoological Journal,' his having known an instance in 



