THE WHINCHAT. 131 



it sings not only in the daytime, but also in twilight, and till 

 late at night. Its call notes are Geu, and Tsa ! 



SWEET'S ACCOUNT. " This species, when wild, generally 

 frequents commons, or places where furze-bushes grow, being 

 very fond of perching on them ; its head is flat, and the light 

 stroke over the eyes gives it a slight resemblance to a frog, from 

 which the specific name is derived. Its song is not one of the 

 best ; still, among other birds, it makes a pleasing variety. It is 

 very easily taken in a trap baited with some living insect, and 

 soon gets familiar in a cage, where it will readily take to feed on 

 the bruised hemp-seed and bread, if a few insects are stuck in it 

 at first ; it is also very fond of raw lean meat, cut in small pieces, 

 or of the yolk of a boiled egg ; it will feed on almost every kind 

 of insect, and is particularly fond of small beetles, earwigs, and 

 butterflies. 



" The bird I at present possess, was caught in July 1821 : it 

 began singing about the middle of September, and continued all 

 through the winter, singing the greater part of the day ; in spring 

 it sung very loud, beginning in the morning before daylight. I 

 find it one of the tenderest species that I have yet kept ; and I 

 have no doubt but the least frost getting at it would cause its 

 death, as in cold weather it appears very melancholy, especially 

 of a morning, before a fire is made in the room ; but as soon as 

 the room begins to get warm, it enlivens, particularly if a few 

 insects be given it ; and I believe it would susbsist but a short 

 time, if some were not given it frequently. 



" Last summer, I procured a nest of young Uedstarts, winch 

 were placed in the aviarv with the other birds ; as soon as they 

 chirped for food, the Wninchat began to be agitated, and ex- 

 amined them minutely ; after a tune, it took to feed them, and 

 continued to do so till they were grown up. This species, and 

 the Redstart, I find to be the most tender of any of the sorts 

 that I have kept through the winter, but they may be managed 

 very well by keeping them in a warm room in cold frosty weather. 

 One that I possess at present is the most interesting bird I have ; 

 it was taken from the nest last summer on Wandsworth Com- 

 mon, and bred up by hand, by which means it became very tame 

 and bold ; when young, it was seized with the cramp, which I 

 thought might be occasioned by the want of sand or gravel, as I 

 suspect what they eat of that turns to lime, and forms or har- 

 dens their bones. I accordingly mixed up some stones, about 

 the size of small shots, in its food, after it had not been able to 

 stand for three or four days : the first day I gave it him, he 

 became much stronger, and could stand a little before night; 



