whom it is fed and attended. In a state of nature we know but little of its manners and economy. Like the rest of its tribe, it feeds chiefly on seed and different kinds of grain. It inhabits the woods of Italy, Greece, and the Canary Islands; from the latter of which it appears to have been first brought into Europe, about the middle of the fourteenth century. These birds, however, are now so com monly bred in our own country, that we are not often under the necessity of crossing the ocean for them. CANARY FINCHI. It is not generally known, that the song of the Canary-bird is usually composed either of the Titlark's or the Nightingale's notes. Mr. Barrington saw two of these birds which came from the Canary Islands, neither of which had any song at all; and he was informed that a ship afterwards brought over a great number of them, all of which had the same defect. Most of the birds that are imported from the Tyrol, have been educated under parents, the progenitors of which were instructed by a Nightingale. The English Canary-birds have, however, more of the Titlark's than of the Nightingale's notes Dr Darwin relates a very singular anecdote respecting one of these birds: "On observing (says he) a Canary-bird at the house of Mr. Hervey, near Tetbury, in Derbyshire, I was told that it always fainted away when its cage was cleaned; and I desired to see the experiment. The cage being taken from the ceiling, and the bottom drawn out, the bird began to tremble, and turned quite white about the root of its bill it then opened its mouth as if for breath, and respired quick, stood up straighter on its perch hung, its wings, spread its tail, closed its eyes, and appeared quite stiff and cataleptic for nearly half an hour; and at length, with much trembling and deep respirations, came gradually to itself." A Frenchman, whose name was Dujon, exhibited in London twenty-four Canary-birds, many of which he said were from eighteen to twenty-five years of age. Some of these balanced themselves, head downward, on tail in the air. One of them taking a slender stick in its claw 8, passed its head between its legs, and suffered itself to be turned round, as if in the act of being roasted. Another bal anced itself, and was TAME CANARY. swung backward and forward on a kind of slackrope. A third was dressed in military uniform, having a cap on its head, wearing a sword and pouch, and carrying a firelock in one claw: after some time sitting upright, this bird, at the word of command, freed itself from its dress, and flew away to the cage. A fourth suffered itself to be shot at, and, falling down as if dead, was put into a little wheelbarrow, and wheeled away by one of its comrades; and several of the birds were at the same time placed upon a little fire-work, and continued there quietly, and without alarm, till it was discharged. THE KING-BIRD, OR TYRANT FLY-CATCHER. 589 THE KING-BIRD, OR TYRANT FLY-CATCHER. This well known, remarkable and pugnacious bird takes up its summer residence in fore the middle of until they begin to pair, and form their nests, which takes place from the first to the last week in May, or early in June, according to the advancement of the season in the latitudes of forty and forty-three degrees. The nest is usually built in the orchard, on the horizontal branch of an apple or pear tree, sometimes in an oak, in the adjoining forest, at various heights from the ground, seldom carefully concealed, and firmly fixed at the bottom to the supporting twigs of the branch. The outside consists of course stalks of dead grass and wiry weeds, the whole well connected and bedded with cut-weed, down, tow, or an occasional rope-yarn, and wool; it is then lined with dry, slender grass, root fibres, and horsehair. The eggs are generally three to five, yellowish-white, and marked with a few large, well defined spots of deep and bright brown. They often build and hatch twice in the season. OF THE FLY-CATCHERS IN GENERAL. THE characters of this genus are, a bill flatted at the base, almost triangular, notched at the end of the upper mandible, and beset with bristles. The toes in most of the species are divided as far as the origin. THE SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER. The length of this species is about four inches and three quarters: the bill is dusky and beset with short bristles: the head and back are light brown, obscurely spotted with black: the wings and tail are dusky, and the former edged with white: the breast and belly are white: the throat, sides, and feathers under the wings, are tinged with red; and the legs are black. This is one of the most mute, and most familiar of all the English summer birds. It visits them in spring, rears its young-ones, and leaves the country in September. Mr. White says, that a pair of these birds built every year in the vines that grew on the walls of his house at Selborne. They one year inadvertently placed their nest on a naked bough, perhaps in a shady time, not being aware of the inconvenience that followed; but a hot, sunny season coming on before the brood was half fledged, the reflec tion of the wall became insupportable, and must inevitably have destroyed the tender young-ones, had not affection suggested an expedient, and prompted the parent birds to hover over the nest during all the hotter hours; while with wings expanded, and mouths gaping for breath, they screened off the heat from their suffering offspring. The female lays four or five eggs: the nest is carelessly made, and consists chiefly of moss, mixed with wool and fibres, so strong, and so large, (says M. de Buffon,) that it appears surprising how so small an artificer could make use of such stubborn materials. When its offspring are able to fly, it retires with them among the higher branches of the trees, sinking and rising perpendicularly among the flies which hum below. This bird feeds on insects, which it catches whilst on wing. It sometimes watches for its prey sitting on a branch or post, and, with a sudden spring, takes it as it flies, and then immediately returns to its station to wait for more. It is said, likewise, to be fond of some kinds of fruit. It is generally believed to have no song. The Rev. Revett Sheppard, however, informs me, that in the garden belonging to the master of Caius College, Cambridge, a Spotted Fly-catcher used frequently to sit on a rail, and entertain him with its notes, which, he says, were very pleasing, and between those of a Wagtail and Gelencrested Wren. The Pied Fly-catcher is a rarer variety, with a whits reast THE PEWIT FLY-CATCHER. 591 THE PEWIT FLY-CATCHER This familiar species inhabits the continent of North America, from Canada and Labrador to Texas, retiring from the Northern and Middle States at the approach of winter. How far they proceed to the south at this season is not satisfactorily ascertained; a few, no doubt, winter in the milder parts of the Union, as Wilson saw them in February in the swamps of North and South Carolina, where they were feeding on smilax berries, and occasionally giving their well even THE PEWIT FLY-CATCHER. known notes; but in the winter, and early spring of 1830, while employed in an extensive pedestrian journey from South Carolina to Florida and Alabama, I never heard or met with an individual of the species. Audubon found them abundant in the Floridas in winter. This faithful messenger of spring returns to Pennsylvania as early as the first week in March, remains till October, and sometimes nearly to the middle of November. In Massachusetts, they arrive about the beginning of April, and at first chiefly frequent the woods. Their favorite resort is near streams, ponds, or stagnant waters, about bridges, caves, and barns, where they choose to breed; and, in short, wherever there is a good prospect for obtaining their insect food. THE AMERICAN REDSTART. This beautiful and curious bird takes up its summer residence in almost every part of the North American continent, being found in Canada, in the remote interior near Red river in the latitude of fortynine degrees, throughout Louisiana, Arkansas, and the maritime parts of Mexico; in all of which vast countries it familiarly breeds and resiles during the mild season, withdrawing early in September to trop |