268 
INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 
endured without much difficulty ; basking, however, like 
Diogenes, in the feeble beams of the sun, which he fol- 
lowed round the room of his confinement, well satisfied, 
when no intruder or companion threw him into the shade ! 
Some very cold evenings he had the sagacity to retire 
under the shelter of a depending bed-quilt ; was very much 
pleased with the warmth and brilliancy of lamp-light, and 
would eat freely at any hour of the night. Unacquaint- 
ed with the deceptive nature of shadows, he sometimes 
snatched at them for the substances they resembled. 
Unlike the Vireos, he retired to rest without hiding his 
head in the wing, and was extremely watchful, though not 
abroad till after sunrise. His taciturnity, and disincli- 
nation to friendship and familiarity in confinement, were 
striking traits. His restless, quick, and side glancing 
eye, enabled him to follow the motions of his flying insect 
prey, and to ascertain precisely the infallible instant of 
attack. He readily caught morsels of food in his bill be- 
fore they reached the ground, when thrown across the 
room ; and, on these occasions, seemed pleased with 
making the necessary exertion. He had also a practice 
of cautiously stretching out his neck, like a snake, and 
peeping about, either to obtain sight of his food, to watch 
any approach of danger, or to examine any thing that 
appeared strange. At length we became so well ac- 
quainted, that when very hungry, he would express his 
gratitude on being fed, by a shrill twitter, and a lively 
look, which was the more remarkable, as at nearly all 
other times he was entirely silent. 
In a natural state he takes his station on the top of 
an apple-tree, or a stake, or tall weed, and betwixt the 
amusement of his squeaking twitter, employs himself in 
darting after his insect food. Occasionally he is seen 
hovering over the field, with beating wing, almost like a 
