94 PAINTED BUNTING. 



employed in securing the male Painted Finch is so connected with its 

 pugnacious habits, that I feel inclined to describe it, especially as it is so 

 different from the common way of alluring birds, that it may afford you, 

 kind reader, some amusement. 



A male bird in full plumage is shot and stuffed in a defensive attitude, and 

 perched among some grass-seed, rice, or other food, on the same platform as 

 the trap-cage. This is taken to the fields or near the orangeries, and placed 

 in so open a situation, that it would be difficult for a living bird of any 

 species to fly over it, without observing it. The trap is set. A male 

 Painted Finch passes, perceives it, and dives towards the stuffed bird, with 

 all the anger which its little breast can contain. It alights on the edge of 

 the trap for a moment, and throwing its body against the stuffed bird, brings 

 down the trap, and is made prisoner. In this manner, thousands of these 

 birds are caught every spring. So pertinacious are they in their attacks, 

 that even when the trap has closed upon them, they continue pecking at the 

 feathers of the supposed rival. The approach of man seems to allay its 

 anger in a moment. The live bird is removed to the lower apartment of 

 the cage, and is thereby made to assist in decoying others. 



They feed almost immediately after being caught; and if able to support 

 the loss of liberty for a few days, may be kept for several years. I have 

 known some instances of their being kept in confinement for upwards of 

 ten years. Few vessels leave the port of New Orleans during the summer 

 months, without taking some Painted Finches, and through this means they 

 are transported probably to all parts of Europe. I have seen them offered 

 for sale in London and Paris, with the trifling difference of value on each 

 individual, which converted the sixpence paid for it at New Orleans to three 

 guineas in London. 



The pugnacious habits of this species are common in a great degree to the 

 whole family of Sparrows. Like the most daring, the Common House 

 Sparrow of Europe, they may be observed in spring time, in little groups of 

 four, five or six, fighting together, moving round each other to secure an 

 advantageous position, pecking and pulling at each other's feathers with all 

 the violence and animosity to which their small degree of strength can give 

 effect. 



A group thus occupied I have attempted to represent in the plate. I have 

 at the same time endeavoured to save you the trouble of reading a long 

 description of the changes which take place in their plumage, from the time 

 at which the young leave the nest, until the second year following, when the 

 males attain the full beauty of their brilliant livery. 



The flight of the Pape, by which name the Creoles of Louisiana know 

 this bird best, is short, although regular, and performed by a nearly constant 



