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gland, and in other parts of Europe, and concerning wliose disappearance the learned have so much disputed. 

 There are pretty good reasons for believing, that these birds perform regular migrations between Europe and 

 America. It is remarkable, that they are more niuneroua on the western than on the eastern shore of Britain. 

 They are stUl more numerous in the west of Ireland than in the west of Scotland. " For one Wood-Cock on 

 the east-coast of Scotland there are twelve in the west, and for one in the west of Scotland there are twelve in 

 Ireland."* Lord Kenmor, about the last of September, sailed from Lisbon to Falmouth, in England, and for 

 ten or twelve days was becalmed on the coast of France. Every day, he saw from ten to twenty Wood-cocks pas- 

 sing from the west towards the land. These it was imagined, came from the continent of America. But I do 

 not suppose that all our Wood-cocks thus migrate to Europe. It is pretty certain, that these birds when they 

 visit us in the spring come from the south, and in the autumn they return to the south again. How far south 

 they proceed, I am unable to determine. They are knovni in Florida, where it is not improbable, that many of 

 them pass the winter-season. 



Fringilla pinus (mihi). This is one of our spring birds of passage, and I think is not described. It commonly continues 

 with us until the middle or the end of April, at which time the Apple and the Pear trees are in bloom. These blos- 

 soms, during some particular seasons, are remarkably infested by a species of Chermes, which proves very destruc- 

 tive to the fruit. By feeding on these devouring insects, the Fringilla pinus is one of the most useful of our birds. 

 This bird, the Fringilla tristis, my Fringilla exihs, and the Fringilla cannabina ? togetlier with the Fringilla Car- 

 duelis of the old world, all belong to the same natural genus, or family. They seem, in some respects, to con- 

 stitute a genus di.stinct from the Fringilla. 



AS these Fragments profess to contain some useful observations, t I think this a proper place to observe, that many 

 of the birds of Pennsylvania, and other parts of the United-States, are so extremely useful to man, by destroying 

 insects and reptiles of various kinds, that they ought studiously to be preserved, if not by the Laws, at least by the 

 Good-Sense, of the country. It would require many observations to give a complete list and history of these 

 Useful Birds. I am not in possession of a sufficient quantity uf facts for this purpose : but some observations 

 I can offer, as materials for future inquirers. 



It may, in the first place, be observed, that insects appear to be the first food of almost all the Ijirds of our country. 

 The more I have inquired, the more I have been convinced, that almost all birds Kve, in some measure, upon insects. 

 Even those species which consume considerable quantities of seeds, berries, and fruit, also consume large quantities 

 of insects: and there are reasons to believe, that others whose principal food is the nectar of plants also live partly 

 upon these insects. Thus Mr. BrandisJ found the vestiges of insects in the stomacii uf the Trocliilus, or Hum- 

 ming-Bird, one of the last birds one woidd have suspected of feeding on animal food. 



The gi'eater number of our smaller birds of the order of Passeres, seem to demand our attention and protection. 

 Some of them feed pretty entirely upon insects, and others upon a mixed food, that is, insects and the vegetable 

 seeds, &c. Many of them contribute much to our pleasure by the melody of their notes. I believe the injury they do 

 us is but small compared to the good they render us. I shall mention, under six different heads, a few of the use- 

 ful birds of this and some other orders. 



L Muscicapa acadica of Gmelin ? This is the Lesser Crested Flycatcher of Pennant. It is called in Pennsylvania 

 the Lesser or Wood-Pewe. This little bird builds in woods and in forests. After the young have left the nests, 

 the parents conduct them to the gardens and habitations of men. Here the whole brood dwells in trees near the 

 houses, where they are fed with the common house-fly, and other insects, that are caught by the old birds. The 

 young ones are soon capable of obtaining their food in the same way. This species of Muscicapa visits us in the 

 spring, and commonly continues with us until late in September, when it retires southerly to winter. 



II. The Motacilla Sialis, or Blue-Bird, feeds principally, if not entirely, upon insects, both such as are Hying and 

 and such as are reptile. It is said they eat currants. 



* Reverend Dr. Walker, of Edinburgh. t See ihe motto, in the Title-Piiue. 



I See the article Trochilos in Qmelin's edition of the Systema Naturm. ToM. I. P. 485. 



F 



