File:The language of birds (18466379306).jpg

THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 245 lived extremely well upon egg and meat, being ex- ceedingly tame. At roosting time, there was always a whimsical conflict amongst them for the inside places, as being the warmest, which ended, of course, by the weakest going to the wall. This scene began with a low whistling call amongst them to roost, and the two birds on the extreme right and left flew on the backs of those in the centre, and squeezed them- selves into the middle. A fresh couple from the flanks immediately renewed the attack upon the centre, and the conflict continued till the light began to fail them. A severe frost, in February, killed all but one of them in one night, though in a furnished drawing room. The survivor was preserved, in a little cage, by burying it every night under the sofa cushions ; but having been, one sharp morning, taken from under them before the room was sufficiently warmed by the fire, though perfectly well when removed, it was dead in ten minutes.'^ Mr. Sweet, in reference to the Wood Wren, says, " This elegant and beautiful little species ranks itself amongst my list of favourites. It visits this country the beginning of April, and leaves in August, or the beginning of- September. It is generally to