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ed, and left to thek own natural chances of living and multi- 

 plying. 



The Si/Irians are among the most interesting foragers of the 

 smaller birds, and are remarkable for their apparent diligence 

 in hunting for insects. They have a peculiar -way of examin- 

 ing the foliage and blossoms, rather than the sui-face of the 

 branches, and their motions are, therefore, very conspicuous 

 upon the outer surface of the trees, near the extremities of 

 • their branches. The Golden Robin hunts his food like the 

 Sylvians, though he is not one of them, and his motions are 

 more rapid and energetic than theirs. He arrives with the 

 first blossoming of the Cherry trees, a coincidence which I 

 have noticed and recorded for several years past. This beauti- 

 ful bird is fond of certain insects that abound upon the leaves 

 and blossoms of trees ; and his Northerly progress is probably 

 regulated by this supply, that comes along with the opening of 

 spring. No sooner does he arrive than he may be seen rigor- 

 ously examining the leaves and blossoms, and catching small 

 beetles and moths which are concealed upon the under sui'face 

 of the foliage, and in the cup of the flower. This bird is con- 

 sidered omnivorous, but I am convinced that during the 

 months of spring and summer, his diet consists almost entirely 

 of insects. 



The Wren, the Creepers and the Tomtits seek their food by 

 creeping round the branches, and take less of their food from 

 the foliage than either the Sylvians or the Fly-catchers. They 

 seldom pause in their circuitous course, proceeding usually 

 from the junction of the branches to their extremity, then hop- 

 ping to another branch, and proceeding upwards till they are 

 satisfied and pass to another tree. The Sylvians always appear 

 to examine the leaves and blossoms, Vhile the Creepers and 

 Tomtils examine more carefully the bark of the tree. Hence 

 the Sylvians do not prolong their stay with us after the fall of 

 the leaf, while the others are seen after the trees are entu'cly 

 denuded, leading us to infer that the one feeds chiefly uj)on 

 beetles and other insects which are most abundant in the summer 



