TO AMERICA IN SEARCH OF BIRDS 423 



rupeds, of Dr. Richardson's work, is out. I am now busy in 

 preparing the second, which contains the Birds. Let me par- 

 ticularly direct your attention to the manners of the Cedar 

 Bird, Ampelis Americana. I suspect it feeds much on Insects 

 in default of fruit, but what is desirable, is to know the way 

 in which it captures Insects, whether as a flycatcher ie. by 

 seizing them on the wing, or like the Gold crest — by picking 

 them up among the branches or leaves. I am now in close 

 correspondance with Charles Bonaparte, & a most valuble cor- 

 respondant he is. 



Mrs. Swainson is just recovering from her confinement af- 

 ter giving me another little son I am happy today they are 

 both going on well. 



Wilson I believe mentions two birds very like the Red eyed 

 Flycatcher, this is a point deserving your attention, but the 

 manners of these birds are much more important. I feel con- 

 vinced there are several species of my Genus Amrnodramus 

 shore finch, in the So. States, they all have narrow pointed tails, 

 like the seasidefinch of Wilson. I further suspect there is more 

 than one species confounded with the Towee Buntling. 



I hope soon again to hear more fully from you, and of your 

 ornithological acquisitions. The dear little ones are quite 

 well. 



Yours very sincerely, 



Wm. Swainson 



The Green 26 June 1829. 

 Mr. John J. Audubon 

 care of 



Mess. Thomas E. Walker & Co. 

 Merchants. 



New York [Philadelphia] 



On the 4th of July Audubon returned to Phila- 

 delphia and prepared for a longer sojourn in the Great 

 Pine Forest, or Great Pine Swamp, as it was sometimes 

 called, in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. In 



