28 NATURAL HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA, 



with a snake in his claws, and Mr. Goodhere fired at, but 

 missed him ; however he dropped the snake. Well, this fellow 

 was on the dead top of an old Hemlock, near the creek, just 

 opposite the house ; the King-bird settled just below him on 

 the tree, then flew into the air above him, and descended with 

 fury on his head ; the Hawk was evidently afraid to move ; 

 the King-bird flew round and round him, then perched close to 

 him, and continued to strike him with his head ; at last, tired 

 of teasing the Hawk, he flew away. 



Yesterday, just as I was coming out of the wood, I stumbled 

 on a brood of young Partridges ; I previously knew of the 

 nest, Mr. Goodhere having shown it to me. The old hen ran 

 about so near me that I could have killed her with my stick. 

 These Partridges {lletrao Umhelliis) are not common here. A 

 few Passenger Pigeons are breeding here. I have found the 

 nest of a White-eyed Vireo, containing four eggs of her own and 

 two of the Cow-bunting; I have not disturbed them, being 

 desirous of watching them : the nest is suspended like that 

 of a Regidus : the old one sat about two yards off" watching 

 me. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the sweetest songster I 

 have yet heard here. Excepting the Nightingale and Woodlark 

 [of England] I know no bird whose song I like better. The 

 song of the [American] Robin is like that of our [English] 

 Thrush ; his cry, when alarmed, resembles that of our Black- 

 bird. One of the small Thrushes has a most singular note : 

 I cannot be sure whether this bird is the mustelinus or minor 

 of Wilson. The Ferruginous Thrush sings most sweetly, — 

 somewhat like our own. There is a nest of mustelinus close 

 to the house. A Pewee has her nest in one of the outbuild- 

 ings. The Swifts here fly just like our own, but do not 

 scream ; they have a very different cry, somewhat like tweak. 

 There are no Purple Martins here ; they never stay about a 

 house when there are no boxes for them to build in : boxes, 

 or martin-houses, are pretty plenty, so they are seldom driven 

 to build elsewhere. The Crows here go three to a nest! 

 always three ! — as far as I can tell, this is invariably the case. 

 The Little Grackles are still in flocks, and Mr. Goodhere tells 

 me they are always so seen. There are not many Baltimores 

 here, although we often see one. There are no Orchard 

 Orioles, although I hear there are plenty a ^ew miles hence. 

 The Night-hawks are here, but not the Whip-poor-will : the 



