THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
61 
eggs in the orange trees of a menagerie at Holderness, 
Yorkshire ; but adds, that the eggs proved unpro- 
ductive. T have seen a splendid pair that a naval 
friend brought from Bayo Fourche, as a present to a 
lady v^rho devoted much of her time to the study and 
comforts of the feathered race ; they were placed in 
her conservatory amongst her choice exotics, and 
although every care was bestowed upon them^ they 
lived but a very short time. 
In noticing this nonpareil, Wilson observes, " Six 
of these birds which I brought with me from New 
Orleans by sea, soon became reconciled to the cage. 
In good weather, the males sung with great spright- 
liness, though they had been caught only a few days 
before my departure. They were greedily fond of 
flies, which accompanied us in great numbers during 
the whole voyage; and many of the passengers 
amused themselves with catching these, and giving 
them to the nonpareils ; till, at length, the birds be- 
came so well acquainted with this amusement, that 
as soon as they perceived any of the people attempt- 
ing to catch flies, they assembled at the front of the 
cage, stretching out their heads through the wires 
with eager expectation, evidently much interested in 
