46 C E D A R - B 1 11 D. 



brook the confinement of the cage ; and never sings in that state. But, 

 except the Mocking-bird {Tiirdus poli/glottos), I know of no native bird 

 which is so frequently domesticated, agrees better with confinement, or 

 sings in that state more agreeably than the Robin. They generally 

 siiflfor severely in moulting time, yet often live to a considerable age. 

 A ladv who resides near Tarrytown, on the banks of the Hudson, in- 

 formed me, that she raised, and kept one of these birds for seventeen 

 years ; which sung as well, and looked as sprightly, at that age as ever ; 

 l.ut was at last unfortunately destroyed by a cat. The morning is their 

 favorite time for song. In passing through the streets of our large 

 cities, on Sunday, in the months of April and May, a little after 

 ilaybreak, the general silence which usually prevails without at that 

 liour, will enable you to distinguish every house where one of these 

 songsters resides, as he makes it then ring with his music. 



Not only the plumage of the Kobin, as of many other birds, is sub- 

 ject to slight periodical changes of color, but even the legs, feet, and 

 bill : the latter, in the male, being frequently found tipped and ridged 

 for half its length with black. In the depth of winter their plumage is 

 generally best ; at which time the full grown bird, in his most perfect 

 dress, appears as exhibited in the plate. 



Genus XXXIII. AMPELIS. CHATTERER. 

 Species. A. AMERICANA* 



CEDAR-BIRD. 



[Plate VII. Fig. 1.] 



Ampelis garruhis, Linn. Si/st. i., 297, 1. 8. — Bomhycilla Carolinensis, Brisson ii., 

 .337, 1. Id.^'vo. 1, '2ol. — Chatterer of CaroUnn, C.vtesb. i., 46. — Arct. Zool. ii., 

 No. 207. — L.\Tn. !<ijn. iii., 9.'i, 1. A. — Edw. 242. — Cook's Last Voya<je, ii.,518. — 

 Elms's Vfij/arffi, II., 1.3. 



The figure of the Cedar-bird which accompanies this description was 

 drawn from a very beautiful specimen ; and exhibits the form of its crest 

 when erected, which gives it so gay and elegant an appearance. At 

 pleasure it can lower and contract this so closely to its head and neck, 

 as not to be observed. The plumage of these birds is of an exquisitely 



* This spooicH (lops not belon;; to the genus Ampelis as at present restricted, 

 l)Ut to the genua Bovibycilla of Brisson, adopted by most modern Ornithologists. 



BrisRon's specific name, CwoUnensis, having the priority, must be adopted for 

 this bird. 



Wilson was wrong in quoting Ampelis gan-ulus, Linn., as a synonyme. 



