THE WHITE-BREASTED WAHBLEE. 385 



siderable effort, and expanded throat. If hung in the aviary, 

 at a distance from other birds, it is a very agreeable singer, as 

 its harsh call is not often heard. 



SWEET'S ACCOUNT. " This pretty little bird visits us about the 

 middle of April, and leaves us again at the end of August, or the 

 beginning of September ; its song is not so agreeable as many of 

 the other species ; but, from its singularity, it makes a pleasing 

 variety, being so very different from all the others ; in its wild 

 state, it feeds principally on flies, and other small insects ; it is 

 also partial to several sorts of fruit, such as cherries, plums, 

 apples, pears, and grapes. In confinement it will soon become 

 tame and familiar, and will readily take to feed on bread and milk, 

 and also on bruised hemp seed and bread. One that I bred up 

 from the nest, became so attached to its cage, that it could not 

 be prevailed upon to quit it for any length of time ; when the 

 door of it was put open, it would generally come out quickly, and 

 first perch on the door, then mount to the top of the cage, from 

 thence it would fly to the top of any other cages that were in 

 the room, and catch any flies that came within its reach ; some- 

 times it would descend to the floor, or perch on a table or chair, 

 and would come and take a fly out of the hand, or drink milk out 

 a spoon, if invited ; of this it was very fond. As soon as it was the 

 least frightened, it would fly immediately to its cage, first on the 

 top, from thence to the door, and would enter in exactly in the 

 same manner as it came out. I have often hung it out at the 

 window, perched on the top of its cage, with the door open, and 

 it would never attempt to fly away ; sometimes, if a fly should 

 happen to pass near it, it would fly off and catch it, and return 

 with it to the top of the cage ; after remaining there a consider- 

 able time, it would either return into it, or fly in at the window, 

 and perch on the cages of the other birds. I sometimes have 

 placed the cage with its door open in the garden, where the ants 

 were plentiful ; it was always very shy of coming out, and 

 would never venture far from it, and on being the least alarmed, 

 it would return to it again. 



" I kept this bird through several winters, and the cold seemed 

 to take no effect on it ; at last, a strange cat came into the room 

 where it was, and pulled it out from betwixt the wires of the 

 cage, without leaving a feather behind, it was so very small. 



" This elegant little bird is well worth keeping in confinement. 

 I have at present a very handsome one, which is continually sing- 

 ing, and has a very pleasing soft note, much more pleasant than the 

 wild ones ; they soon become much attached to their cage, and to 

 the person who feeds them." 



c c 



