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PAINTED BUNTING. 
employed in securing the male Painted Finch is so connected with its 
pugnacious habits, that I feel inclined to describe it, especially as it is so 
different from the common way of alluring birds, that it may afford you, 
kind reader, some amusement. 
A male bird in full plumage is shot and stuffed in a defensive attitude, and 
perched among some grass-seed, rice, or other food, on the same platform as 
the trap-cage. This is taken to the fields or near the orangeries, and placed 
in so open a situation, that it would be difficult for a living bird of any 
species to fly over it, without observing it. The trap is set. A male 
Painted Finch passes, perceives it, and dives towards the stuffed bird, with 
all the anger which its little breast can contain. It alights on the edge of 
the trap for a moment, and throwing its body against the stuffed bird, brings 
down the trap, and is made prisoner. In this manner, thousands of these 
birds are caught every spring. So pertinacious are they in their attacks, 
that even when the trap has closed upon them, they continue pecking at the 
feathers of the supposed rival. The approach of man seems to allay its 
anger in a moment. The live bird is removed to the lower apartment of 
the cage, and is thereby made to assist in decoying others. 
They feed almost immediately after being caught ; and if able to support 
the loss of liberty for a few days, may be kept for several years. I have 
known some instances of their being kept in confinement for upwards of 
ten years. Few vessels leave the port of New Orleans during the summer 
months, without taking some Painted Finches, and through this means they 
are transported probably to all parts of Europe. I have seen them offered 
for sale in London and Paris, with the trifling difference of value on each 
individual, which converted the sixpence paid for it at New Orleans to three 
guineas in London. 
The pugnacious habits of this species are common in a great degree to the 
whole family of Sparrows. Like the most daring, the Common House 
Sparrow of Europe, they may be observed in spring time, in little groups of 
four, five or six, fighting together, moving round each other to secure an 
advantageous position, pecking and pulling at each other’s feathers with all 
the violence and animosity to which their small degree of strength can give 
effect. 
A group thus occupied I have attempted to represent in the plate. I have 
at the same time endeavoured to save you the trouble of reading a long 
description of the changes which take place in their plumage, from the time 
at which the young leave the nest, until the second year following, when the 
males attain the full beauty of their brilliant livery. 
The flight of the Pape , by which name the Creoles of Louisiana know 
this bird best, is short, although regular, and performed by a nearly constant 
