THE BLTTEBBEAST. 399 



though I have never known their battles come to that extremity, 

 yet I have, on many occasions, observed them skirmishing with 

 such relentless ferocity and unabated ardour, that had I not 

 interposed, fatal consequences must inevitably have ensued to 

 one party. On one occasion especially, I remember to have 

 found two of these birds engaged in such glorious conflict, under 

 a laurel bush, that neither of the combatants observed my 

 approach ; or at all events, they heeded it not, and both of them 

 fell into the hands of the ' prying naturalist.' On putting them 

 into a cage, capacious enough to have held a dozen birds of a 

 more peaceful nature, to my no small surprise, they renewed the 

 combat as fiercely as ever. I now released one of my prisoners, 

 and each of them instantly poured forth its song in defiance of 

 the other, the one within the wires, the other at full liberty. 

 The next day I set my other captive at liberty, and, on the 

 evening of tne same day, found the champions again at their 

 post, fighting each other ' tooth and nail.' I now separated them 

 for the third and last time. That is what one would call carry- 

 ing the spirit of revenge rather too far. The organ of destruc- 

 tiveness must be very fully developed in this bird. 



" I have often taken advantage of the extreme pugnacity of 

 the Robin Redbreast, for the capturing others of its species. 

 The method alluded to is as follows : If you tie a Robin Red- 

 breast by the leg, inside a small cage, and leave the door open, 

 many minutes will not elapse before another of its kind, attracted 

 by its fluttering, approaches the cage, hops round it two or three 

 times, uttering its note of menace, and, lastly, boldly rushes into 

 the cage, and enters into close combat with the unfortunate cap- 

 tive. How the battle might terminate if the birds were left to 

 themselves, I know not, but suffice it to gay, that the new comer 

 may be captured, and, in his turn, be tied to the cage as a lure 

 for its brethren. But it is unnecssary even to use a cage for this 

 purpose. The birds may be tied, as soon as caught, to a stake, 

 or anything that is at hand ; for the Robin Redbreast, when 

 intent on destroying one of its fellow creatures, is little mindful 

 of any danger that may threaten itself." 



155. THE BLUEBBEAST, OE BLUETHBOATED WAEBLEE. 



Sylvia or Motacilla Suecica, LIN. Le Gorge Bleu, BUF. Das Blau 

 Kehlchen, BECH. 



Description. This handsome bird resembles, in many points, 

 both the Redstart and the Wagtail, and may be considered as 

 a link between the two. It is five inches and a half in length, 

 of which the tail measures two inches and a quarter. The 

 beak is sharp, blackish, but yellow at the corners ; the iris 



