OHDEK PASSERES. 321 



very vigorous, walk rather with precipitation, and with the body 

 nearly upright. Sometimes they are seen on the ground, and 

 sometimes perched on trees. They do not seek concealment, 

 and never enter the Avoods, or feed on fruits. Insects, grains, 

 and small seeds, constitute the staple of their subsistence. 

 They are easily brought up in cages. They take abundance 

 of care to withdraw their nests from all eyes. These details^ 

 however, cannot be generalized for all the species, for among 

 those who inhabit the Antilles, there are some that usually go 

 in pairs, and sometimes in families ; but they apply to the 

 great majority. The carouges of North America quit it at 

 the approach of winter, and are the first emigrating birds 

 which return thither in spring. 



We are obliged, for the sake of brevity, to pass over the 

 OxYRHiKci and Pit-pits, to each of which our author allows 

 but one species, and of which the details could produce no- 

 thing but tedium. We proceed to the 



Stares. — More birds have been placed in this division by 

 ornithologists than by Nature, whose several modes of arrange- 

 ment are occasionally found to differ. Our observations here 

 must be chiefly confined to the common stare, whose habits are 

 best known. 



The time of reproduction Avith the stares commences in the 

 early days of spring. Then each pair forms its selection and 

 isolates ; but this union does not take place very peaceably. 

 The males dispute with excessive vehemence, and the female 

 is the lot of the conqueror. It is at this time that their song 

 is heard, which is almost a continual chirping. They have 

 also another cry, which is a very long and sharp whistle ; this 

 is usually a cry of uneasiness. Once paired, they seek out a 

 convenient place for the cradle of their young. They some- 

 times possess themselves of the nest of another bird, sometimes 

 build under the roofs of houses, churches, and even in the 

 crevices of rocks. It is not certain that they construct their 



VOL, VII. Y 



