22 
would generally come out quickly, and first perch 
on the door, then mount to the top of the cage ; from 
thence it would fly to the top of any other cages that 
were in the room, and catch any flies that came 
within its reach ; sometimes it would descend to the 
floor, or perch on a table or chair, and would come 
and take a fly out of the hand, or drink milk out of 
a spoon, if invited ; of this it was very fond ; as soon 
as it was the least frightened, it would fly imme- 
diately to its cage, first on the top, from thence to 
the door, and would enter in exactly in the same 
manner as it came out. 1 have often hung it out at 
the window, perched on the top of its cage, with 
the door open, and it would never attempt to fly 
away ; sometimes, if a fly should happen to pass 
near it, it would fly off and catch it, and return with 
it to the top of the cage ; after remaining there a 
considerable time, it would either return into it, or 
fly in at the window, and perch on the cages of the 
other birds. I sometimes have placed the cage, 
with its door open, in the garden, where the ants 
were plentiful; it was always very shy of coming 
out, and would never venture far from it ; and on 
being the least alarmed, it would return to it again. 
I kept this bird through several Winters, and the 
cold seemed to take no effect on it ; at last, a strange 
cat came into the room where it was, and pulled it 
out from betwixt the wires of the cage, without 
leaving a feather behind, it was so very small. 
