INTRODUCTION. 15 



refuge of the garden, and watching, occasionally, the motions of 

 the tenant, answers to his whistle with complaisant mimicry, or in 

 petulant anger scolds at his intrusion. The Common Robin, who 

 never varies his simple and coarse architecture ; tormented by the 

 parasitic Cuckoo, or the noisy Jay, who seek at times to rob him of 

 his progeny ; for protection, has been known fearlessly to build his 

 nest within a few yards of the blacksmith's anvil, or on the stern 

 timbers of an unfinished vessel, where the carpenters were still 

 employed in their noisy labors. That sagacity obtains its influence 

 over unvarying instinct in these and many other familiar birds, may 

 readily be conceived, when we observe, that this venturous associa- 

 tion with man vanishes with the occasion which required it ; for no 

 sooner have the Oriole and Robin reared their young, than their 

 natural suspicion and shyness again return. 



Deserts and solitudes are avoided by many kinds of birds. In an 

 extensive country of unvarying surface, or possessing but little va- 

 riety of natural productions, and particularly where streams and 

 waters are scarce, few of the feathered tribes are to be found. The 

 extensive prairies of the west, and the gloomy and almost intermin- 

 able forests of the north, as well as the umbrageous, wild, and 

 unpeopled banks of the Mississippi, and other of the larger riv^ers, 

 no less than the vast pine barrens of the southern states, are nearly 

 without birds, as permanent residents. In crossing the desolate 

 piny glades of the south, with the exception of Creepers, Wood- 

 peckers, Pine Warblers, and flocks of flitting Larks (Sturnella), 

 scarcely any birds are to be seen till we approach the meanders of 

 some stream, or the precincts of a plantation. The food of birds 

 being extremely various, they consequently congregate only where 

 sustenance is to be obtained; watery situations and a diversified 

 vegetation is necessary for their support, and convenient for their 

 residence ; the fruits of the garden and orchard, the swarms of in- 

 sects which follow the progress of agriculture, the grain v\'Iiich we 

 cultivate, in short, every thing which contributes to our luxuries 

 and wants, in the way of subsistence, no less than the recondite and 

 tiny enemies, which lessen or attack these various resources, all 

 conduce to the support of the feathered race, which consequently 

 seek out and frequent our settlements, as humble and useful depen- 

 dents. 



The most ingenious and labored nest of all the North American 

 birds, is that of the Orchard Oriole or Troopial. It is suspended or 

 pensile, like that of the Baltimore, but, with the exception of hair, 



