Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/70

Rh, but were very fond of beetles and may-bugs; these they first killed, and then beat them with their beak into a kind of oblong ball; when this was done they threw it into the air that they might catch it and swallow it lengthwise; if it fell across the throat they were obliged to begin again. Instead of bathing they roll in the sand. I took them one day into a neighbouring field that they might catch insects for themselves, and had then an opportunity of remarking their innate fear of birds of prey, and their instinct under it. As soon as they perceived a raven, or even a pigeon, they were on their bellies in the twinkling of an eye, their wings stretched out by the side of their head, so that the large quill-feathers touched; they were thus surrounded by a sort of crown, formed by the feathers of the tail and wings, the head leaning on the back, with the bill pointing upwards: in this curious posture they might be taken for an old rag. As soon as the bird which frightened them was gone they jumped up immediately, uttering cries of joy. They were very fond of lying in the sun; they showed their content by repeating in a quivering tone, vec, vec, vec; when angry their notes are harsh, and the male, which is known by its colour being redder, cries, hoop, hoop. The female had the trick of dragging her food about the room; by this means it became covered with small feathers, and other rubbish, which by degrees formed an indigestible mass in her stomach about the size of a nut, of which she died. The male lived through the winter; but not quitting the heated stove, its beak became so dry that the two parts separated, and remained more than an inch apart; thus it died miserably."