Turd us — Vireo i 73 



being so continuous as to seem almost like a chain of 

 nests woven together. 



Pliny. 

 The Turdi are in winter chiefly seen in Germany. 



The first kind of Turdus Englishmen particularly name 

 a Thrushe, and Germans (if the bird-catchers, who taught 

 me so to call it, lead me not astray) eyn crammesvogel. 

 The second kind the English call a Throssel or a Mavis, but 

 the Germans say eyn drossel or eyn durstel. The third is 

 named a Wyngthrushe by the English and eyn weingaerds- 

 vogel by the Germans. This Turdus has broadish red spots 

 on each side near the eyes, as well as on the breast, and also 

 both inside and outside at the bend of the wing. But I have 

 never seen its nest, nor is that wonderful, since it is nowhere 

 to be seen with us throughout the summer. The first kind is 

 not observed in England save in winter, or, if it be seen, it is 

 unusual. The second kind, with a much spotted breast 

 appears throughout the year, and by many is kept in cages 

 for its song. It builds a nest, moreover, inwardly of mud or 

 else of rotten wood tempered with moisture and smoothed 

 skilfully, and outwardly of moss, upon the boughs of trees or 

 shrubs. 



Of the Vireo. 



XXwplcov, vireo, in English a witwol, in German eyn wit- 

 wol or eyn weidwail, or eyn kersenrife. 



Aristotle. 



The Vireo is teachable, and is remarkable for its 

 capacity for the duties of life ; but it flies badly and is 

 not of a pleasing colour 1 . The Vireo is wholly of 

 a dusky green ; it is not seen in winter here, but 

 comes chiefly in view about the summer solstice, it 

 departs at the rise of the star Arcturus, and is of 

 the size of the Turtur. 



1 Cf. p. 86. 



