178 
General Notes. 
had two objects in view : first, to observe their style of plumage during the 
summer months, and, secondly, if possible, to induce them to breed and 
rear their young. Imagine my delight, when I found that in a few days 
they not only became accustomed to their narrow quarters, but apparently 
thoroughly satisfied and happy. Flocks of their companions passing over 
were certain to be called down, to alight on the fences, the ground, and 
in fact everything in the neighborhood of the cage, to even the cage itself. 
Their plumage at this time of year seemed to be almost in a perfect state, 
all the colorings being very dark. My captives were fed upon canary seed, 
flax seed, finely cracked wheat, and, later in the year, lettuce, and 
other tender leaves. As the sods at the bottom of the cage were often 
entirely removed, they no doubt obtained also many insects. Every 
morning as I approached the cage, a general and impatient chattering 
commenced for their breakfast and bath, and they immediately availed 
themselves of both in my presence; and often I deluged the entire thing, 
birds and all, wfith a large watering-pot, they enjoying this sprinkling 
immensely. Later in the spring this part of the programme was followed 
by their mounting to the upper cage, pluming themselves in the sun, 
chattering among themselves, and the males giving utterance to a low, 
subdued, and plaintive sort of a song, being different from the shrill 
whistle they gave to attract the attention of their passing fellows outside. 
By the middle of May, all the birds of this species had entirely left the 
country; the spring migration was thoroughly inaugurated, and the 
weather was becoming very warm. Swallows were breeding and many 
other birds were evidently thinking of doing likewise. I now made their 
home as attractive as possible, by every means that my imagination could 
invent. Nests of birds of about their own size that built on the ground were 
introduced into the secluded nooks of their breeding cage, but these they 
invariably pulled to pieces the very day I placed them there. In short, 
by the middle of June I had abandoned all hope of their breeding and 
during their entire confinement there never seemed any evidence of their 
pairing, or having the least desire, like sensible birds, of resorting to the 
business of the season. 
By the first of July, they were as gentle as any cage birds I ever saw; 
they would pick seed out of one’s hand, and alight on your finger, if you 
quietly introduced it between the bars; in fact, they were all that any one 
could desire in the way of cage pets. On the 10th of July, I opened the 
doors of their little prison and allowed them all to escape, as they had 
suffered intensely from the heat for several days ; the sudden exercise was 
rather too much for one or two of them, and they were readily retaken 
but only to be kept until the cool of the evening. The brilliancy of their 
plumage seemed to be at its acme in the early part of May; at the time 
of their release it was in all of them many shades paler. On several occa- 
sions during the summer they were seen about the post, usually one at a 
time, so I am quite confident they never made the attempt to either breed 
that season or to follow their companions to the northward. — R. W. 
Shufeldt, 1st Lt. Med. Dept. U. S. Ar?ny, Fort Fetterman , Wyoming. 
