10 DUXXOCK. 



the sun. They are inoffensive towards other birds, and 

 friendly also with one another. In one instance, however, a 

 relative of Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, witnessed a fight between 

 two of them, in which one was killed: the victor, after 

 having slain his antagonist, twice or thrice uttered a song of 

 triumph, at the 'finale' of which he each time flew at and 

 again struck his victim. They display great concern if their 

 nest be disturbed, and endeavour to entice any intruder away: 

 they roost at night in some accustomed place. They are 

 easily tamed, and kept in confinement, and in that state shew 

 much attachment to other birds. They are fond both of 

 dusting and washing themselves. It would seem that they 

 roost on the ground. In hard winters they not very unfre- 

 quently perish from want. 



Their flight is straight, and generally very short, as also 

 low. 



The food of this species consists of small seeds, particularly 

 those of the grasses, grain, and insects, minute snails, 

 chrysalides, and larvae, in addition to which small fragments 

 of stone are swallowed; and in search of such, or any other 

 minute eatables, too small even for you to observe at all what 

 they are, you will see it quietly, peaceably, and industriously 

 searching about, advancing with that gentle raising and 

 shuffling of the wings, most exhibited in the breeding season, 

 from whence one of its vernacular names. It also frequently 

 moves the tail up and down, with a somewhat similar motion ; 

 and in the spring floats in the air in a manner foreign to 

 its usual habit. Even though you may approach within a 

 few yards of it, it moves or flits but a little way off, or 

 hops into the nearest covert until you have passed by. 

 The young are fed with insects. 



The song of this gentle, modest, and retiring little bird, 

 which is heard even in winter, and continued until the end 

 of May, and in fact for nearly the whole of the year, is, as 

 might be expected, of a quiet and subdued tone. It is, 

 however, particularly mellow and pleasing, making up in 

 soft richness what it wants in compass and power: I have 

 heard it on the 19th. of February, which is about the 

 period that it is usually commenced. It frequently utters it 

 in fair weather, from the middle or top of a bush, hedge, 

 or low tree, though sometimes from the ground, or on a 

 wall, repeating it eight or nine times in succession; but should 

 the^temperature change, and a storm of the 'bitter piercing 



