. A manual of the ornithology of the United States and of Canada [microform]. Birds; Oiseaux. 582 BLENDER-BIIXED BIRDS. T pares for its progeny in .onie hollow tree, or even m a rail of the neighbouring fence. If the orifice to the nest, in the dead tree, be too large, the female of the European species contracts the entrance with plastic earth and mud, like a potter, and this barricade is speedily rebuilt if broken down. The eggs, about 5, are of a dull white, spotted with brown at the greater end. The male is now assiduously attentive to his sitting mate, supplying her regularly with food ;
. A manual of the ornithology of the United States and of Canada [microform]. Birds; Oiseaux. 582 BLENDER-BIIXED BIRDS. T pares for its progeny in .onie hollow tree, or even m a rail of the neighbouring fence. If the orifice to the nest, in the dead tree, be too large, the female of the European species contracts the entrance with plastic earth and mud, like a potter, and this barricade is speedily rebuilt if broken down. The eggs, about 5, are of a dull white, spotted with brown at the greater end. The male is now assiduously attentive to his sitting mate, supplying her regularly with food ; on which occasion he afToctionatcly calls her from the mouth of her dark and voluntary pris- on, where sometimes, in mere sociability, he attempts in his rude way to soothe her with his complaisant chatter. He is too affectionate to ramble from this favorite spot, where he not only accompanies his consort, but, sentinel- like watches and informs her of every threatening dan- ger ' When the pair are feeding on the trunk of the same tree, or near to each other in the same wood, the faithful male is heard perpetually calling upon his companion at short intervals, as he circumambulates the trunk. His ap- proach is announced usually at a distance by his nasal quank quank, frequently repeated, as in spiral circles round the trunk of some tree, he probes, searches, and shells oflf the bark in quest of his lurking prey of spiders ants, insects, and their larva in general. So tight and secure is his hold, that he i« known to roost indifferently with his head up or down from the tree; and when wounded, while any spark of life remains, his convulsive and instinctive grasp is still firmly and obstinately main- tained. Sometimes with a sort of complaisant curiosity, one of the birds, when there is a pair, will silently de- scend nearly to the foot of the tree, where the spectator happens to stand, stopping, head downwards, and stretch- ing out his neck, as it were to reconnoitre your appea
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectoisea, bookyear1832
