The Natural History of Cage Birds Part 47

[100] In sitting on house eaves, and singing in the autumn, it performs a similar part in Germany to the red-breast in Britain. No red-breast on the Continent becomes familiar about the house like ours; they keep always in the woods.--TRANSLATOR.

[101] At a very advanced age the female acquires all the colours of the male, yet less bright, as I have observed of several birds. Such females do not breed afterwards, and in summer fly from place to place. This peculiarity is also observed in hen-pheasants.--AUTHOR.

[102] It is not found in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[103] This I doubt.--TRANSLATOR.

[104] Most certainly a mistake.--TRANSLATOR.

[105] Sweet's British Warblers.

[106] One of these pretty birds, which I had in my room one winter, ate with pleasure, and appeared to thrive upon, a very simple paste, made of the crumb of white bread dried in an oven and powdered: a teaspoonful of this was put in a cup, and three teaspoonfuls of milk, as hot as it could be made without boiling, poured over it.--AUTHOR.

[107] It is rare in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[108] It is difficult to decide to what genus this species belongs; it has the characteristics of several. Its size, habit, food, mixed insects and seeds, even its pace, for when on the ground it rarely hops like the warblers, but runs quickly head forwards, like the quails, scarcely ever resting on trees; in all this it bears a relation to the larks. Now as there are larks that appear to form the link between that genus and the warblers, the Alpine warbler may be said to form one also between the warblers and the larks.--TRANSLATOR.

[109] It is called Joe Bent by the London bird-catchers.--TRANSLATOR.

[110] This cylinder oftens occasions their death. It is only by great address and quickness that they can pa.s.s through the hole of communication; each time they run the risk of being crushed, especially on coming out, from the prolonged motion of the machine.--TRANSLATOR.

[111] It is not uncommon in Britain, such as near London, &c.--TRANSLATOR.

[112] They are fond of picking bones.--TRANSLATOR.

[113] They are not uncommon in Britain, such as about London, &c.--TRANSLATOR.

[114] It is found, but rarely, in the fir woods in the north of Scotland.--TRANSLATOR.

[115] I have, however, seen one old crested t.i.t that was tamed as easily as any other bird. After pa.s.sing the winter in a cage it refused its liberty in the spring. It was then placed in the garden near the house, where it remained till evening, having hopped about all day, uttering restless anxious cries. Its mistress, fearing some accident befalling it during the night, held the cage towards it, into which it instantly jumped with pleasure. Since then it has been allowed to range three adjoining rooms. It is always lively, coming when its mistress calls, and perching on her finger, and seeking in her half-closed hand the flies she may have there. It made a nest in a window-curtain, into which it would glide secretly in the evening, but would never go whilst any eyes were turned on that side, and seized a favourable moment so quickly, that for some time no one knew where it retired; when it was discovered, the curtains were never touched.--TRANSLATOR.

[116] This is not quite correct, the female having small moustaches of a light colour.--TRANSLATOR.

[117] They abound in the fens of Lincolnshire, on the Thames below Greenwich, &c.--TRANSLATOR.

[118] Great numbers are brought from Holland to London, and sell for about five shillings a pair.--TRANSLATOR.

[119] This is a mistake: the food given to the young is a sort of thick milky secretion from the stomach of the parent birds, both male and female.--TRANSLATOR.

[120] In England they are not uncommon in the woods.--TRANSLATOR.

[121] The close and mephitic air of these rooms, which are kept warmer whilst a person is ill, may well produce this apparent sympathy.--TRANSLATOR.

[122] An erroneous opinion, which displays more egotism than humanity; yet do people generally act with more equity and disinterestedness?

[123] Here is another instance, in which man, seeking his own pleasure at the expense of the well being of other creatures, deceives himself respecting the motives. The poor prisoner does not sing to amuse himself, or from contentment; its repeated cries call unceasingly for the mate from which it is separated; and though they have been vain throughout the day, he renews them on the morrow, no doubt, like man, supported by hope,--a hope, alas! which is never realised!--AUTHOR.

[124] It is now uncommon in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[125] A great many mallards are half domesticated on the water in St.

James' Park, London, and other similar places in England.--TRANSLATOR.

THE END.