252 
OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 
weed down,* in some places softened with glutinous saliva 
so as to be formed into coarse connecting shreds. The 
round edge of the nest was made of coils of the wiry stolons 
of a common Cinquefoil, f then lined with exceedingly fine 
root fibres ; over the whole, to give elasticity, were laid fine 
stalks of a slender Juncus or minute rush. In these nests 
the eggs were, as described by Wilson (except as to form), 
marked with smaller and more numerous spots than the 
preceding. From the lateness of the autumn, at which 
period incubation is still going on, it would appear that this 
species is very prolific, and must have at least two hatches 
in the season ; for as late as the 7th of September a brood, 
in this vicinity, were yet in the nest. The period of sit- 
ting is about 15 or 16 days, and while the young are still 
helpless, it is surprising to witness the silence of the pa- 
rents, uttering no cries, nor making any approaches to 
those who may endanger or jeopard the safety of their 
brood ; still they are flying round, and silently watching 
the dreaded result, and approach the nest the moment the 
intruder disappears. They feed the young, at first, with 
insects and smooth catterpillars, but at the end of the 
3d or 4th day they are fed, like the old ones, almost ex- 
clusively on sweet and juicy fruits, such as whortle and 
service berries, wild and cultivated cherries, &c. A 
young bird from one of the nests described, in the Hem- 
lock, was thrown upon my protection, having been by 
some means ejected from his cradle. In this critical situ- 
ation however he had been well fed or rather gorged with 
berries, and was merely scratched by the fall he had re- 
ceived. Fed on cherries and mulberries, he was soon 
well fledged, while his mate in the nest was suffered to 
perish by the forgetfulness of his natural protectors. 
Coeval with the growth of his wing-feathers, were already 
* Onaphalium plantagincum. 
| Potentilla simplex. 
