160 BLUE-BIRD. 



the former year, and to prepare for the reception of their future off- 

 spring. Soon after this another sociable little pilgrim {Motaeilla domes- 

 tica, House Wren) also arrives from the south, and finding such a snug 

 berth pre-occupied, shows his spite, by watching a convenient opportu- 

 nity, and in the absence of the owner popping in and pulling out 

 sticks ; but takes special care to make off as fast as possible. 



The female lays five, and sometimes six, eggs, of a pale blue color ; 

 and raises two, and sometimes three broods in a season ; the male taking 

 the youngest under his particular care while the female is again sitting. 

 Their principal food are insects, particularly large beetles, and others 

 of the coleopterous kinds that lurk among old dead and decaying trees. 

 Spiders are also a favorite repast with them. In fall they occasionally 

 regale themselves on the berries of the sour gum ; and as winter ap- 

 proaches, on those of the red cedar, and on the fruit of a rough hairy 

 vine that runs up and cleaves fast to the trunks of trees. Ripe per- 

 simmons are another of their favorite dishes ; and many other fruits and 

 seeds which I have found in their stomachs at that season, which, being 

 no botanist, I am unableto particularize. They are frequently pestered 

 with a species of tape-worm, some of which I have taken from their 

 intestines of an extraordinary size, and in some cases in great numbers. 

 Most other birds are also plagued with these vermin ; but the Blue-bird 

 seems more subject to them than any I know, except the Woodcock. 

 An account of the difiFerent species of vermin, many of which I doubt 

 not are nondescripts, that infest the plumage and intestines of our 

 birds, would of itself form an interesting publication ; but as this 

 belongs more properly to the entomologist, I shall only, in the course 

 of this work, take notice of some of the most remarkable ; and occa- 

 sionally represent them in the same plate with those birds on which 

 they are usually found. 



The usual spring and summer song of the Blue-bird is a soft, agree- 

 able and oft-repeated warble, uttered with open quivering wings, and 

 is extremely pleasing. In his motions and general character he has 

 great resemblance to the Robin Red-breast of Britain ; and had he 

 the brown olive of that bird, instead of his own blue, could scarcely be 

 distinguished from him. Like him he is known to almost every child ; 

 and shows as much confidence in man by associating with him in sum- 

 mer, as the other by his familiarity in winter. He is also of a mild^ 

 and peaceful disposition, seldom fighting or quarrelling with other birds. 

 His society is courted by the inhabitants of the country, and few far- 

 mers neglect to provide for him, in some suitable place, a snug little 

 summer house, ready fitted and rent-free. For this he more than sufii- 

 ciently repays them by the cheerfulness of his song, and the multitude 

 of injurious insects which he daily destroys. Towards fall, that is in 

 the month of October, his song changes to a single plaintive note, as 



