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85 



plums, cherries, figs, gooseberries, and other soft fruits; but it far more than compensates for this 

 petty pilfering by the wholesale war it carries on against the various species of insects that affect 

 our fruit-trees and vegetables. It feeds on that disgusting little aphis known as American blight, 

 which so rapidly covers with a fatal cloak of white the stems and branches of our best apple- 

 trees ; it clears our early cabbages of a pestilent little insect that, left unchecked, would utterly 

 destroy the crop; it visits our gardens and devours another swarming parasite that covers our 

 roses and other flowering plants, to say nothing of its general services as an insectivorous bird. 

 Surely, in return for these important benefits, to both orchard and garden, the flocks o£ Zostero^s 

 may justly be held entitled to an occasional feed of cherries, or to a small tithe of the ripe fruits 

 which they have done so much to defend and cherish ! 



This bird emits a soft plaintive cry, repeated at short intervals ; but on the wing, and espe- 

 cially when consorting in a flock, it utters a rapid twittering note. During the breeding-season 

 the male indulges in a low musical strain of exquisite sweetness, but very subdued, as if singing 

 to himself or performing for the exclusive benefit of his partner. This song is something like the 

 subdued strain of the Korimako (AntJwrnis melanura)^ but much softer. 



If shot at and wounded it generally manages to escape capture by scrambling nimbly off* into 

 the thicket, hiding itself and remaining perfectly silent till the danger has passed. Frequent 

 attempts have been made to keep it caged ; but although it wiU readily feed, it seldom survives 

 confinement many weeks. Only one instance of complete success has come to my knowledge. 

 Mrs. Fereday, residing near Christchurch, kept several of them caged for upwards of two years ; 

 and I am indebted to that lady for the following amusing account of these captives: — They 

 were adult birds when taken, but soon became reconciled to the restraints of a canary-cage, and 

 partook readily of bread soaked in milk. They were interesting objects on account of their 

 extreme display of mutual affection, as they were always caressing one another and preening each 

 other's feathers. This demonstration of affection, however, was at length carried too far, as one 

 of them contracted a habit of pulling out his neighbour's feathers, in order to suck the oily 

 matter from the roots of the quills. The practice was commenced during the seasonal moult, 

 when the pen-feathers were present, but was continued afterwards, till it became necessary to 

 turn out the offender and introduce a wild bird in its place. But the practice soon became 

 general, each bird plucking and submitting to be plucked in the most business-like manner. The 

 operation was usually commenced on the neck, and it was very droll, said my informant, to see 

 the bird holding its head up, as a man would sit to be shaved, while the feathers were plucked 

 out one by one. The birds were then separated, but they manifested the utmost distress, crying 

 plaintively and refusing their food. On the first opportunity they resumed their old habit, and 

 at length one of them was plucked completely bare ! Finding the case hopeless, 

 then liberated the birds in the garden, where they seemed to suffer from the colder temperature 

 of the open air, and shortly disappeared altogether, probably falling victims to some predatory 



Mrs 



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Mr 



close together, like love-parrots ; and before they fold their heads under their wings they bill and 

 preen each other's head and neck most lovingly, uttering at the same time a gentle twittering 

 note." 



