152 OUR NATIVE SON'GSTERS. 



accompany its little cries of recognition by a 

 joyous clapping of its wings. Bechstein had one, 

 which, during the winter, he kept in a hothouse, 

 and which he fed, whenever he entered, with a 

 meal-worm. Immediately on the entrance of its 

 master, the little bird would place itself near the 

 jar in which these worms were placed, and if he 

 pretended not to notice it, it would fly about, 

 passing continually under his nose, then go back 

 to its post, and then repeat the flight, striking its 

 master with its wing, till its impatient wishes 

 were gratified. 



Xor is the affectionate character of the black- 

 cap shown only to man. Its love for its mate is 

 very tender; and its solicitude for her and its 

 young most marked. If deprived of its liberty 

 with its family, it will continually feed the young 

 ones, and even force its distressed mate to eat, 

 when sori'ow has taken away from her all appetite. 

 In the wild state, and when the little ones quit 

 the nest, they will all follow the parent birds, 

 hopping from branch to branch, in company ; and 

 at night, the whole fj\mily perch on one branch, a 

 parent bird at each end, guarding the young ones 

 which are placed in the middle. They seem to 



