LIFE OF AYILSON. xxxix 



is not sufficiently unlike all the members of its family there to be considered 

 as specifically different ; on this general observation I conclude with confidence 

 that your jay is not a European bird. 



" The first bird on the same sheet I judge to be a Muscicapa from its bill, 

 as well as from the following circumstance. Two or three days before my 

 arrival here a neighbor killed a bird, unknown to him, and never before seen 

 here, as far as he could learn ; it was brought to me soon after I arrived ; but 

 in the dusk of the evening, and so putrid that it could not be approached but 

 with disgust. But I retain a suffi6iently exact idea of its form and colors to 

 be satisfied it is the same with yours. The only difference I find in yours is 

 that the white on the back is not so pure, and that the one I saw had a little 

 of a crest. Your figure, compared with the white-bellied Gohe-mouche, 8 Buff. 

 342, PI. enlum. 566, shows a near relation. Buffon's is dark on the back. 



" As you are curious in birds, there is one well worthy your attention, to be 

 found, or rather heard, in every part of America, and yet scarcely ever to be 

 seen ; it is in all the forests, from spring to fall, and never but on the tops of 

 the tallest trees, from which it perpetually serenades us with some of the 

 sweetest notes, and as clear as those of the nightingale. I have followed it 

 for miles without ever, but once, getting a good view of it. It is of the size 

 and make of the mocking-bird, lightly thrush-colored on the back, and a gray- 

 ish-white on the breast and belly. Mr. Randolph, my son-in-law, was in pos- 

 session of one which had been shot by a neighbor; he pronounces this also a 

 Muscicapa, and I think it much resembling the Mouche-rolle de la Martinique, 

 8 Buffon, 374, PI. enlum. 568. As it abounds in all the neighborhood of 

 Philadelphia, you may perhaps by patience and perseverance (of which much 

 will be requisite) get a sight, if not a possession of it. I have for twenty 

 years interested the young sportsmen of my neighborhood to shoot me one; 

 but as yet without success. Accept my salutations and assurances of respect. 



Th. Jefferson." 



To Mr. Wm. Bartram. 



" April 18th, 1805. 



"By Mr. Jefferson's condescending and very intelligent letter to me, which 

 I enclose for your perusal, it appears that our jay is an entirely new, or rather 

 undescribed bird, which met me on the banks of the Mohawk, to do me the 

 honor of ushering him to the world. This duty I have conscientiously dis- 

 charged, by introducing him to two naturalists : the one endeared to me, and 

 every lover of science, by the benevolence of his heart; and the other or- 

 dained by Heaven to move in a distinguished orbit — an honor to the human 

 race — the patron of science, and best hope of republicans ! I say, that no bird, 

 since Noah's days, could boast of such distinguished honor. 



" Mr. Jefferson speaks of a very strange bird ; please let me know what it 

 is ; I shall be on the look-out, and he must be a sly fellow if he escape me. I 

 shall watch his motions, and the sound of his serenade, pretty closely, to be 

 able to transmit to our worthy president a faithful sketch of a bird, which he 

 has been so long curious to possess." 



