54 PARING. 



tree, which habit in this country has procured for it the name 

 of stonechat. It is composed of moss, wool, and hair, lined 

 with every available feather. The eggs average from eight to 

 twelve, in one instance eighteen were obtained in a single 

 nest.* They are transparent reddish white, dotted with light 

 brown. 



So strong is the attachment of this bird to its eggs or 

 young, that when sought for, it prefers remaining on the nest 

 rather than escape. In many instances we have thus captured 

 the female when striving to defend her young, pecking deter- 

 minedly at the hand, and uttering her sibilous notes. She 

 offers her own life to save her progeny. So extraordinary 

 are the sites often chosen by this species to nidify, that they 

 are frequently noticed in the public prints. One instance 

 came under the notice of a friend of the author as follows : 



u A plaster cast of Milton, exposed in a garden, had its eye 

 destroyed by the arrow of a mischievous urchin, which, when 

 the classic interior became exposed, was at once selected by 

 a pair of these birds, and where they succeeded for many 

 years in rearing their broods in safety. Never was greater 

 indignity offered to the poet than the present; his solemn 

 bust profaned by these noisy vagrants." 



So volatile are the attitudes of this bird, that we never for 

 a moment observed it stationary, and when a number are 

 observed concentrated on one tree searching for food, their 

 appearance is delightful in the extreme ; every change of at- 

 titude possible for bird to make is at once effected by this 

 comical little droll, all constantly enlivened by a note the very 

 soul of merriment. Even the usually sedate Wordsworth ap- 

 pears infected with the joyous spirit of 



" That giddy sprite, 

 Bluecap, who, with his colours bright, 

 Hung-head, pointing towards the ground 

 Fluttered, perched, into a round 

 Bound himself and then unbound ; 

 Lithest, gaudiest harlequin ! 

 Prettiest tumbler ever seen !" 



Indigenous. 



* Hewitson. 



