132 



HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



courtship. As the call-birds are all males, 

 and as the wild birds that attend to their voice 

 are most frequently males also, it does not 

 seem that love can have any influence in their 

 assiduity. Perhaps the wild females, in these 

 flights, attend to and obey the call below, and 

 their male companions of the flight come down 

 to bear them company. If this be the case, 

 and that the females have unfaithfully led 

 their mates into the nets, they are the first 

 that are punished for their infidelity : the 

 males are only made captives for singing ; 

 while the females are indiscriminately killed, 

 and sold to be served up to the tables of the 

 delicate. 



Whatever be the motives that thus arrest 

 a flock of birds in their flight, whether they 

 be of gallantry or of war, it is certain that the 

 small birds are equally remarkable for both. 

 It is, perhaps, the genial desire that inspires 

 the courage of most animals ; and that being 

 greatest in the males, gives them a greater 

 degree of valour than the females. Small 

 birds being extremely amorous, are remark- 

 ably brave. However contemptible these 

 little warriors are to large creatures, they are 

 often but too formidable to each other; and 

 sometimes fight till one of them yields up his 

 life with the victory. But their contentions 

 are sometimes of a gentler nature. Two male 

 birds shall strive in song till, after a long 

 struggle, the loudest shall entirely silence the 

 other. During these contentions, the female 

 sits an attentive silent auditor, and often re- 

 wards the loudest songster with her company 

 during the season. 



Singing among birds is almost universally 

 the prerogative of the male. 1 With them it is 

 the reverse of what occurs in the human kind. 



1 White, in his charming Natural History of Selborne, 

 gives the following list of the time of song of British 

 soft-billed birds. 



Woodlark, (Alauda arborea). In January, and con- 

 tinues to sing through all the summer and autumn. 



Song-thrush, (Turdus simpliciter dictus}. In Febru- 

 ary, and on to August; resume their song in Autumn. 



Wren, (Passer troglodytes). All the year, hard frost 

 excepted. 



Red-breast, (Rubecula}. Ditto. 



Hedge-sparrow, (Curuca). Early in February, to 

 July the 10th. 



Yellow-hammer, (Emberiza flava) . Early in Febru- 

 ary, and on through July to August the 21st. 



Skylark, (Alauda vulgaris}. In February, and on to 

 October. 



Swallow, (Hirundo domestica}. From April to Sep- 

 tember. 



Black-cap, (Atricapilla). Beginning of April, to 

 July 1 3th. 



Titlark, (Alauda pratorum}. From middle of April, 

 to July 16th. 



Blackbird, (Merula vulgaris}. Sometimes in Febru- 

 ary and March, and so on to July the 23rd ; re-assumes 

 in autumn. 



White-throat, 'Ficedulce ajfinis}. In April, and to 

 July 23. 



Among the feathered tribe, the heaviest cares 

 of life fall to the lot of the female. Hers is 

 the fatigue of incubation, and to her devolves 

 the principal fatigue of nursing the helpless 

 brood. To alleviate these fatigues, and to 

 support her under them, Nature has given the 



Goldfinch, (Carduelis). April, and through to Sep- 

 tember 16. 



Greenfinch, (Chloris). On to July and August 2nd. 



Less reed-sparrow, (Passer arundinaceus minor.) 

 May, on to beginning of July. 



Common linnet, (Linaria vulgaris). Breeds and 

 whistles on till August ; re-assumes its note when they 

 begin to congregate, in October, and again early before 

 the flocks separate. 



Birds thai cease to be in full sony, and are usually 

 silent at or before Midsummer : 



Middle willow-wren, (Regulus nun cristatus). Middle 

 of June ; begins in April. 



Redstart, (Ruticilla). Ditto ; begins in May. 



Chaffinch, (Fringilla}. Beginning of June, sings 

 first in February. 



Nightingale, (Luscinia). Middle ot June; sings 

 first in April. 



Birds that sing for a short time, and very early in 

 the spring : 



Missel-bird, (Turdus viscivorus). January the 2nd, 

 1770, in February. Is called in Hampshire and Sussex 

 the storm-cock, because its song is supposed to forebode 

 windy, wet weather. Is the largest singing bird we have. 



Great titmouse, or ox-eye, (Fringillago). In Febru- 

 ary, March, and April; re-assumes for a short time in 

 September. 



Birds that have somewhat of a note or song, and yet 

 are hardly to be called singing birds : 



Golden-crowned wren, (Regulus cristatus). Its note 

 as minute as its person: frequents tops of high oaks and 

 firs: the smallest British bird. 



Marsh titmouse, (Parus Palustrit). Haunts great 

 woods; two harsh, sharp notes. 



Small willow-wren, (Regulus non cristatus). Sings 

 in March, and on to September. 



Largest willow-wren. Cantat voce stridula locusta; ; 

 from end of April to August. 



Grasshopper lark, (Alauda minima voce locustcs). 

 Chirps all night, from the middle of April to the end of 

 July. 



Marten, (Hirundo agrestis). All the breeding time; 

 from May to September. 



Bullfinch, (Pyrrhula). 



Bunting, (Emberiza alba). From the end of Janu- 

 ary to July. 



Birds that sing as they fly are but few : 



Skylark, (Alauda vulgaris). Rising, suspended, and 

 falling. 



Titlark, (Alauda pratorum). In its descent; also 

 sitting on trees, and walking on the ground. 



Woodlark, (Alauda arborea). Suspended ; in hot 

 summer nights all night long 



Blackbird, (Merula}. Sometimes from bush to bush. 



White-throat, (Ficeduia; affinis). Uses, when sing- 

 ing on the wing, odd jerks and gesticulations. 



Swallow, (Hirundo dumestica). In soft, sunny wea- 

 ther. 



Wren, (Passer troglodytes}. Sometimes from busli 

 to bush. 



Birds that breed most early in these parts : 



Raven, (Corvus). Hatches in February and March. 



Song-thrush, (Turdus). In March. 

 Blackbird, (Merula). In March. 

 Rook, (Comix frugilega). Builds in the beginning 

 of March. 



Woodlark, (Alauda arborea). Hatches in April. 



