60 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 95 



inated by the strong social temperament so characteristic oi 

 her kind. 



On October 21 a stray junior male was called down from 

 the sky by the combined efforts of the trio in the cage. He 

 was quickly trapped, examined and released and showed a 

 total loss of all local interest by the rapidity of his disappear- 

 ance into space. 



In November the temperature began to average at steadily 

 lowering levels, and it was becoming too cold for the birds, 

 so I decided to bring them indoors, and having but two small 

 cages I thought it better to release D than endanger the 

 health of two birds by placing them in one small cage. D 

 differed from B in that he would not leave at all, though there 

 was no available food in the vicinity, and during his three 

 days of liberty occasionally examined the sunflowers, but 

 spent most of his time on the cage trying to reach the seed 

 dish. Finally he became so weak and indifferent as to re- 

 main impassive while I stroked him with my hand, and it 

 being evident that he would perish unless replaced in the 

 cage, I put him there, but he died the following day. His 

 conduct did not surprise me after my experience with B, for 

 at the time of his capture he was probably less than two 

 months old and had experienced little of the wild life, while 

 his release took place in a season of gloom and cold, when 

 no birds were left except the unfriendly English sparrows, 

 nor any food supply visible outside the cage. Had I liberated 

 B and D within sight or hearing of a flock of the species they 

 would not have returned to the cage. 



It is now early January, 1916, and I still have A and C. 

 Their cages are beside each other in a window overlooking 

 the cherry tree, but not once have the birds evinced a desire 

 to get outdoors, probably owing to the winter drear. A be- 

 ing nest reared, is ver}- tame and whenever he catches my 

 eye tries to get to me by flying from perch to perch close to 

 the wires to which he now and then clings with head pro- 

 truding between them. He is teasing for cracked sunflower 

 seeds, of which both are \ery fond and which he eagerly 



