FRINGILLA CIRIS. 
240 
observed several nonpareils, two of which had nesti 
and w'ere then hatching-. 
Were the same attention bestowed on these birds ^ 
on the canary, I have no donbt but they would 
with equal facility, and become equally numerous 
familiar, while the richness of their plumage 
compensate for their inferiority of song. Many of 
have been transported to Europe ; and I think I hi" 
somewhere read, that in Holland attempts have b* 
made to breed them, and with success. When * ^ 
employments of the people of the United States bec*’"'^ 
more sedentary, like those of Europe, the innocent 
agreeable amusement of keeping and rearing birds 
this manner n-ill become more general than it is j 
present, and their manners better known. And 
cannot but think, that an intercourse with these 1'”,^ 
innocent warblers is favourable to delicacy of feehijj'’ 
and sentiments of humanity ; for I have observed 
rudest and most savage softened into benevolence n"®' 
contemplating the interesting manners of these inom 
sive little creatures. ^ 
Six of these birds, which I brought with me 
cage. 
sprightliness, though they had been caught only » 
birds 
arrive in 
Louisiana, from the . 
i# 
These — — . ... ....... ^ — iv w 
about the middle of April, and begin to build -[^.y 
May. In Savannah, according to Mr Abbot, t .|y 
arrive about the 20th of April. Their neats are us" ^ 
fixed in orange hedges, or on the lower branches 
In good weather, the males snug with g^- | 
days before my departure. They were greedily 
of flies, which accompanied us in great numbers di"^ j 
the whole voyage ; and many of the passengers 
themselves with catching these and giving them to 
nonpareils; till, at length, the birds became so ' 
acquainted with this amusement, that as soon as to ^ 
perceived any of the people attempting to catch d"'. 
they assembled at the front of the cage, stretchiug 
their heads through the wires with eager expectat' 
evidently much interested in the issue of their effo'' ‘j. 
