280 CLASS AVES. 



* 



elevated key than the others. It is from such that the species 

 must be judged, for they are by far the most common ; and 

 even the bad disposition of those which break the eggs or kill 

 the young, is often only apparent : it proceeds from their 

 amorous temperament — from the desire of enjoying the com- 

 pany of the female more fully and exclusively. The best 

 mode of managing these, is to place them in an apartment 

 exposed to the sun, and facing the east, in winter, and to have 

 more females than males. Thus, while one hatches, they seek 

 another. When the females are less numerous, the males will 

 fight desperately ; and it is said that when they see one male 

 tormenting a female, the others will beat him for the purpose 

 of taming down his ardency. 



The same differences of character and temperament may be 

 remarked among the females. The females of a particular 

 race, called agates, from their colour, are the most feeble (as 

 are also the males), and often die upon their eggs. They are 

 full of whims, and often quit the little ones to give themselves 

 to the male. Some females, such as the grey, are so idle, 

 that their nests must be made for them ; but they are gene- 

 rally good nurses. 



These birds evince very strong natural sympathies, and 

 sometimes antipathies, which nothing can subdue. The sym- 

 pathy of a male may be known by putting him alone in an 

 aviary, where there are many females, even of a colour dissi- 

 milar to his own. In a few hours he will make choice of one, 

 and will not cease, for an instant, to shew his attachment by 

 feeding her, while for the others he evinces the greatest possi- 

 ble indifference. He will even choose a female without seeing 

 her. It is sufficient that he should hear her cry, and he will 

 not cease to call her, although others may be with him in the 

 same cage. This penchant sometimes becomes fatal to the 

 male, who has been knoAvn to die of grief, if the female be- 

 longed to another master than his, and could not be procured 



