76 
BOMBYCILLA GARRULA. 
sexual attraction. Not only do the male and fetn^j 
caress and feed each other, hut the same proofs ' 
mutual kindness have been observed between individ"^ 
of the same sex. This amiable disposition, so agrees*!, 
for others, often becomes a serious disadvantage to' 1 ' 
possessor. It always supposes more sensibilft\- fW* 
energy, more confidence than penetration, more si<J 
phcity than prudence, and precipitates these, as 
as nobler victims, into the snares prepared for th^ 
by more artful and selfish beings. Hence they ^ 
stigmatized as stupid, and, as they keep generally d' 1 ^ 
together, many are easily killed at once bv a sb'i^ 
discharge of a gnu. They always alight ’on tn' f * 
hopping awkwardly on the ground. Their (light is t e< { 
rapid : when taking wing, they utter a note resembP 
the syllables zi, zi, ri, but are generally silent, uotw'*, 
standing the name that has been given them. TIA 
are, however, said to have a sweet and agreeable so 1 '- 
m the time of breeding, though at others it is a m t j 
whistle. The place of breeding, as we have intimafa 
is not known with any certainty, though they are s'' 1 
to build in high northern latitudes, preferring mo 11 ^ 
tainous districts, and laying in the clefts of rocks, whi<r 
however, judging from analogy, we cannot believe. 
hat can ho the cause of their leaving their nnknO'k 
abodes, of their wide migrations, and extraordins*} 
irruptions, it is very difficult to determine. That th 1 '-' 
are not compelled to them by cold is well proved. $ 
they to be ascribed to necessity from excess'*! 
multiplication, as is the case with the small miadrupe* 
cahcd lemmings, and even with man himself in a sai< 
state, or in over populous countries ? or shall wc supp°k 
that they are forced by local penury to seek elseu'lx’ 1 ' 
the food they cannot he supplied with at home V Mf, 
light may he thrown on the subject by carefully ohsei'V'' 11 
their habits and migrations in America. 
The Bohemian chatterer being so well known, 
shall here only give a description of our best Ainei'' c: !. 
specimen, which is a female shot on the 20th M* 1 ?. 
1825, on the Athabasca river, near the Rocky Mount"’ 115 
1 he sexes hardly differ in plumage. 
