516 AVES—BLUE-BIRD. 
most difficult and inaccessible places for its residence; 1t likewise builds ia 
forests, in holes of trees, or in high and dangerous precipices. The female 
lays four or five eggs, not much unlike those of the hedge-sparrow, but 
somewhat longer. Should she discover that they have been touched, she 
immediately forsakes them. These birds feed on flies, spiders, the eggs of 
ants, small berries, soft fruits, and such like. If taken when old, it is im- 
possible to tame the redstart, but if caught young, and kept warm during 
the winter, it may be domesticated, and will pour forth its song, by night as 
well as by day, with great sweetness and freedom. 

THE BLUE-BIRD. 
Tue blue-bird is one of the first messengers of spring, and meets with a 
hearty welcome from every body. He appears as early as February, and 1s 
seen with his mate reconnoitering the leaf in the garden, and the hole in the 
apple tree, the cradles of some generations of his ancestors. They then 
begin to clear out the old nest, and to prepare for the reception of their 
future offspring. Soon after this, another sociable little pilgrim arrives from 
the south, and finding such a snug birth pre-occupied, shows his spite, by 
watching a convenient opportunity, and, in the absence of the owner, pops 
in and pulls out the sticks; but takes especial care to make off as fast as 
possible. 
Their principal food is insects and beetles, and sometimes spiders. In the 
fall they feed on berries, fruits, and seeds. The usual spring and summer 
song of this bird, is a soft, agreeable and oft-repeated warble,, uttered with 
open quivering wings, and is extremely pleasing. In his motions and charac- 
ter he resembles the redbreast of Britain, and like him he is known to 
almcst every child. He is of a mild and peaceful disposition, seldom quar- 
relling with other birds. His society is courted in the country, and few 
farmers neglect to provide for him, in some suitable place, a snug little 
summer-house, ready fitted and rent free. For this he more than sufficiently 
repivs them by the cheerfulness of his song and the multitude of injurious 
insects which he destroys. Towards fall, his song changes to a single plain- 
tive note, as he passes over the yellow and many-colored woods; and its 
melancholy air recalls to our minds the approaching decay of the face of 
nature. Even after the trees are stripped of their leaves, he still lingers 
over his native fields, as if loth to leave them. Indeed he appears scarcely 
ever totally to forsake us, as with every return of mild and open weather, 
we hear his plaintive note amidst the fields, or in the air, seeming to deplore 
the devastation of winter. 
The blue-bird is six inches and three quarters long; the wings are remar- 
ee 


1 Sylvia sialis, WiLson. 
