96 FRINGILL1D.E. 



little pair to breed, we placed them by themselves in a pro- 

 per cage, which was put into a room where they would be 

 quite unmolested : here they remained some weeks, but 

 seeing no sign on their part, of any intention to fulfil our 

 wishes, the cage and its little inhabitants were again brought 

 among the family. In the course of the day, however, the 

 female was observed to be very restless, constantly chirping, 

 and busy in carrying about small pieces of the building 

 materials with which she was supplied. We immediately 

 provided the cage with sufficient food and water to last for 

 several days, and replaced it in its former quiet apartment. 

 In a day or two, being anxious to know if our little prisoners 

 were in want of anything, we ventured quietly into the 

 room, and, to our great pleasure, saw a little nest in one 

 of the compartments, partly built ; it was about the size 

 of a goldfinches, and the bird had selected from the materials 

 given her only the white ones, namely, wool and feathers : 

 there was yet no egg. In another day or two we repeated 

 our visit : it was on the 22nd of June, and we were grieved to 

 find the beautiful little nest destroyed, and a solitary egg 

 lying upon the floor. The hen-bird was sitting upon one 

 of the perches, motionless and dull, her dear little mate 

 all the while singing his sweet song, as if to rouse her. 

 Finding our hopes thus blighted, we opened the door of 

 the cage, the window of the room being secured with net- 

 work, in hopes that the free air and the liberty of rang- 

 ing the room, might revive her spirits and induce her to 

 resume her task : but it was all in vain. The male bird 

 continued his unremitting attentions, fluttering around his 

 mate, and singing his lively song hours together, while the 

 hen sat usually upon a peg that was fastened into the wall, 

 taking no notice of him or his attentions. One morning 

 on listening at the door for his usual song, nothing was to 

 be heard ; and looking in, we found our favourite, the cock- 



