10 DUNNOCK. 
the sun. They are inoffensive towards other birds, and 
friendly also with one another. In one instance, however, a 
relative of Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, witnessed a fight between 
two of them, in which one was killed: the victor, after 
having slain his antagonist, twice or thrice uttered a song of 
triumph, at the ‘finale’ of which he each time flew at and 
again struck his victim. They display great concern if their 
nest be disturbed, and endeavour to entice any intruder away: 
they roost at night in some accustomed place. They are 
easily tamed, and kept in confinement, and in that state shew 
much attachment to other birds. They are fond both of 
dusting and washing themselves. It would seem that they 
roost on the ground. In hard winters they not very unfre- 
quently perish from want. 
Their flight is straight, and generally very short, as also 
ow. 
The food of this species consists of small seeds, particularly 
those of the grasses, grain, and insects, minute snails, 
chrysalides, and larvz, in addition to which small fragments 
of stone are swallowed; and in search of such, or any other 
minute eatables, too small even for you to observe at all what — 
they are, you will see it quietly, peaceably, and industriously 
searching about, advancing with that gentle raising and 
shuffling of the wings, most exhibited in the breeding season, 
from whence one of its vernacular names. It also frequently 
moves the tail up and down, with a somewhat similar motion; 
and in the spring floats in the air in a manner foreign to 
its usual habit. Even though you may approach within a 
few yards of it, it moves or flits but a little way off, or 
hops into the nearest covert until you have passed by. 
The young are fed with insects. 
The song of this gentle, modest, and retiring little bird, 
which is heard even in winter, and continued until the end 
of May, and in fact for nearly the whole of the year, is, as 
might be expected, of a quiet and subdued tone. It is, 
however, particularly mellow and pleasing, making up in 
soft richness what it wants in compass and power: I have 
heard it on the 19th. of February, which is about the 
period that it is usually commenced. It frequently utters it 
in fair weather, from the middle or top of a bush, hedge, 
or low tree, though sometimes from the ground, or on a 
wall, repeating it eight or nine times in succession; but should 
the temperature change, and a storm of the ‘bitter piercing 
