498 
GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 
when molested, or mounting the low boughs of some or- 
chard tree or shrub, utters a quickly articulated ascend- 
ing ’tsh ’tsh ’ tsh ’tsh ’tsh tshe tshe, almost like the jing- 
ling of farthings, and a little resembling the faint war- 
ble of the Canary, but without any of its variety or loud- 
ness. This-note, such as it is, is continued often for half 
an hour at a time, but is little louder than the chirping 
of a cricket, and uttered by the male while attending his 
brooding mate. For many weeks, through the summer, 
and during fine weather, this note is often given from 
time to time in the night like the reverie of a dream. 
The nest of the Chipping Bird varies sometimes con- 
siderably in its materials and composition. The external 
layer, seldom so thick, but that it may be readily seen 
through, is composed of dry stalks of withered grass, and 
lined more or less with horse or cow hair. The eggs 
are 4 and 5, of a bright though not deep greenish-blue 
color, with a few spots of dark and lighter brown chiefly 
disposed at the greater end. They are usually narrowed 
considerably at the small end, though occasionally they 
are almost oblong. The Cuckoo destroys many eggs of 
this timid, harmless, and sociable little bird, as their 
nests are readily discovered, and numerous ; on such oc- 
casions, the little sufferer expresses great and unusual 
anxiety for the security of her charge, and after being 
repeatedly robbed, the female sits closely sometimes up- 
on perhaps only two egg s, desirous at any rate to escape, 
if possible, with some of her little offspring. 
Towards the close of summer, the parents and their 
brood are seen busily engaged collecting seeds and in- 
sects, in the neighbouring fields and lanes, and now be- 
come so numerous, as the autumn advances, that, flitting 
before the path on either side as the passenger proceeds, 
they almost resemble the falling leaves of the season, 
