1 36 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
This bird is heard almoft inceflantly in the 
fpring; it is often feen to rife {Trait above the 
hedge, whirl round in the air, and defrend, fing. 
ing always the fame lively little fong, which it 
continually repeats, fo that it has been called the 
prater. 
One fees it conftantly flirting, reftlefs, enter¬ 
ing into the bulbes, hopping about them, without 
ever perceiving it ftill for one moment. It makes 
its neft in hedges by the road fides, in places the 
jnoft concealed, near the ground, and even in 
tufts of grafs which grow in the bottoms of 
bufites. 
It feeds upon infers, efpecially thofe caterpil¬ 
lars that are found upon the leaves of fhrubs, 
and bulhes : as it frequents our gardens, groves, 
and the neighbourhood of houfes, it is already in 
part familiarized, and may be eafily tamed ; is 
fometimes kept in a cage for the fprighttinefs of 
its fong ; it is neceflary to let it have water to 
bathe itfelf, otherwife it would die in moulting. 
PETTY CHAPS. 
The plumage greenifh afh colour, beneath yellow ifh ; flo- 
macli inclining to white, or filvery; tail dufky; infide of 
the mouth red, eyebrows white. 
Inhabits Europe as far north as Sweden. 
This 
