PASSERINE BIRDS. 101 



their song — indeed, that of the male may be heard late into the autumn and winter. Unlike other 

 birds kept in a room, they are most lively in the evening ; no sooner is the lamp lighted than the little 

 captives begin to trumpet forth their cry. The concerts with which we are entertained at these times 

 are most amusing. The performance begins with their loud and clear trumpet-call, changing gradually 

 into the protracted droning sound that mainly constitutes their song ; after which they give utterance 

 to a variety of noises, some of which are not unlike the mewing of a cat. At another time they will 

 commence with light clear notes, resembling those of a little silver bell, and these are succeeded by an 

 entirely different cry, which we might compare to the song of a Bunting. Their quavering call is 

 usually followed by one much deeper and rapidly uttered, and their changes of temper are expressed 

 by various tones, which are poured forth with great point and expression. The Moros are rarely heard 

 to chatter amongst themselves, as do the smaller kinds of parrots, but merely employ a sound not 

 unlike the cackling of a hen three or four times repeated, and their cry when alarmed or surprised is 

 quite peculiar. Should any one attempt to catch them, they quaver forth a piteous sound, so full and 

 expressive that we are astonished that it can be produced by so small a creature. The sound to 

 which we allude is uttered with the head laid back and the beak wide open, while the gentler notes, 

 on the contrary, are produced with the beak closed. During their song, and particularly in the 

 breeding season, these birds accompany themselves with a variety of the most comical movements, 

 dancing about their companions, and chasing each other with great zeal. It is not unusual to see the 

 male bird, with its body erect and outspread wings, looking like the strange figures we employ as 

 armorial bearings. 



When caged, the Moros still appear to prefer living upon the ground, over which they hop rather 

 than walk, and here they usually pass the night. They will often conceal themselves, but never creep 

 into holes that have a narrow entrance. When a party of them is engaged in preening and expanding 

 their feathers in the sun, the spectacle they afford is very striking and beautiful. Unfortunately, in 

 captivity their plumage soon loses its magnificent red colour, but, despite its loss, they always present 

 a pleasing appearance. The Desert Trumpeter should be fed, like others of its species, upon 

 seeds, in the choice of which it is far from dainty, though it prefers hemp or millet, and will also 

 eat the green heads of the dandelion, the seeds of which it picks out most dexterously ; neither 

 does it refuse ears of corn nor the leaves of some plants, such as lettuce, cabbage, &c. ; but it will 

 not eat insects, with the exception of the pupse of ants. In fact, it is by no means particular 

 as respects diet, and is very easily reared. The Moro will frequently breed in captivity, and with 

 a little care and patience may be completely tamed ; it does not require any artificial warmth, for 

 the scorching days and icy cold nights of the Sahara seem to render it indifferent to any change of 

 temperature. 



Should the Moro be separated from its species it will seek the society of other birds, and 

 we have known a case in which a Desert Trumpeter mated with a small pigeon {Columba passerind) 

 of twice its own size. For the construction of the nest it prefers a cage that is hung up at some 

 height, the bars of which are rather wide apart, and will only build with straw, which they collect by 

 beakfuls at a time, but utterly reject hay or moss as unfit for the purpose. The interior is lined with 

 feathers. The male bird carries some of the materials to the nest, but it is constructed almost entirely 

 by the female. The pair we observed spent some time inside, one entering as the other left, and they 

 appeared occasionally to have considerable difficulty in managing the conveyance of some of the long 

 straws, with which they grappled. Our birds laid their first egg in April, and another was daily added 

 till there were four. The mother, who but rarely left the nest, would probably have sat upon her brood, 

 had we not determined to sacrifice half her stock on the altar of science. The remaining two eggs 

 we placed in the care of a canary that was an excellent sitter, and brought her young charges out 



