950 General Notes. | [September, 
birds of the avairy was at once proceeded with. The heretofore 
abused cutthroat was also placed in with the rest. 
Immediately upon his entrance his former manner was changed, 
and so suddenly, as if by magic. His former expression denotin 
fear was now abandoned, and the little fellow, with all the sprightli- 
ness of the monarch of the aviary, a flit of his wings, a chirp, and 
he was bythe side of a small finch I had not as yet identified. The 
new-comer was crouched upon the floor of the cage, in fear, and 
partly perhaps through exhaustion. 
It was at once evident that these birds were friends, for there 
was a caressing of bills, a few notes from the bird, which proved 
, 
_the ruler of that cage, when the cutthroat, with a wild harsh cry, — 
flew upon his assailant and catching him by the lores pulled away | 
like a bull-dog. Another change of position and the finch wa — 
upon the sparrow’s back, and away they both went, to all parts 
the cage, the little one keeping his hold, while each of the other 
Occupants excepting the female cutthroat and indigo finch sought 
refuge by clinging to the top and sides of the cage, as far as poss — 
ble from the scene of shot Even a Baltimore oriole that had 
many times taken pleasure in pecking his sharp bill at the help- 
less cutthroat, now sought refuge, and even more eagerly than 4 
smaller birds. At last the female cutthroat chirped more loudy 
than before, and though in the heat of the battle the little matè | 
left his abuse of the sparrow and flew to her side. | 
At this procedure there was some hurried chirping and instantly 
the male hopped over to the opposite side of his crouched matè. — 
Then with his bill he laid aside the feathers of her wing, ee 
his bill well up into her feathers, thence hurriedly withdra wat 
another cry, and once more, more viciously than ever, he 7 bi 
. in his 
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