342 
INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS* 
him, from this note, Pee-pee-tshu. They often also 
utter a loud echoing 3 1ch-’Jch ’Jch, and sometimes chip in 
a high or slender tone when alarmed, and with an affec- 
tation of anger sharply flirt the tail and ends of the 
wings. They raise several broods in a season, and 
considerable numbers flock together in the latter end of 
summer and autumn. When feeding on cherries, poke, 
sassafras, and sour-gum berries, they are so intent as to 
be easily approached and shot down in numbers ; and 
when fat, are justly esteemed for food, and often brought 
to market. In the spring they frequently descend to the 
ground in quest of worms and insects, which then consti- 
tute their principal support. 
They are commonly brought up in the cage, and seem 
very docile and content. They sing well, readily learn to 
imitate lively parts of tunes, and some have been taught 
to pipe forth psalms even to so dull and solemn a measure 
as that of “ Old Hundred ” ! They acquire also a consid- 
erable taste for mimicry, imitating the notes of most of 
the birds around them, such as the Blue-bird, Pewee, 
Whip-poor-will, and others. On being approached with 
the finger, they usually make some show of anger by 
cracking and snapping the bill. At times they become 
very tame, and will go in and out of the house with do- 
mestic confidence, feel uneasy when left alone, and on 
such occasions, have sometimes the sagacity of calling 
attention by articulating endearing words, as pretty , 
pretty , &c. connecting, apparently with these expres- 
sions, their general import of attentive blandishment. 
They become almost naked in the moulting season, in 
which they appear to suffer considerably, yet have been 
known to survive for 17 years or upwards. The rufous 
color of the breast becomes deeper in those birds which 
thus live in confinement. Their principal song is in the 
