224 TREATISE ON 



ted to fly through the room, where the cage stood, 

 it would (during breakfast,) perch on the sugar 

 basin, nibble at the sugar, and peep into every cup. 

 When any of the females of the family were at 

 work, it delighted to hover about their fingers, 

 and try to seize the thread, by pulling it away ; if 

 it met with no resistance, it soon ceased from its 

 laboui's, or, if it succeeded in carrying off the prize, 

 the pleasure was at an end, — for, dropping the thread, 

 it soon returned to the sport with renewed interest, 

 e"ndently more intent on pastime than plunder. 

 We often placed the open cage outside the window, 

 when the bunting would hop out of the cage, perch 

 on the top ; and, after looking about it for some 

 time with apparent unconcern, instead of availing 

 itself of the liberty thus offered, it would fly back 

 to the room. 



This elegant little bird, in a wild state, is al- 

 most as familiar and domestic as the common 

 house sparrow ; it frequents hamlets and villages, 

 and never builds far from the habitations of man. 

 It may be often seen on the high-way, hopping and 

 flitting before the pedestrian, seeking food for its 

 mate or its young; it also frequents the high-roads 

 in winter in pursuit of food, and dm'ing that sea^ 

 son becomes so tame as to allow a person to ap- 



