EEDWING.— rurdMS ilUieiis. 



hedgerows and well-wooded plantations. During the winter the birds scatter themselves 

 rather widely ; but innnediately after their arrival, and before their departure, they gather 

 tlieniselves into societies, and are then sadly persecuted by the fowler. 



The general colour of the Eedwing is a warm, rich cinnamon-brown upon the upper parts 

 of the body, the wings are rather darker, except the external webs of the quill-feathers, which 

 have a greyish tinge, and over the eye runs a well-defined streak of very pale ashen-lirown. 

 The chin, throat, and whole under surface of the liody are greyish-wliite, deepening intci a 

 brownish tinge on the sides of tlie neck, the breast, and the Hanks, and profusely studiled 

 with longitudinal dashes of the same brown as that of the back. When the wings are 

 closed, the bird very much resembles the common Tlirush, but when it spreads its wings 

 for flight, it discloses a large patch of orange-red feathers upon the sides of the body, from 

 which it has derived its name of Eedwing. In total length the Eedwing nearly reaches 

 nine inches. 



The Cat-Bird, so called from the resemblance whicli some of its notes bear to the 

 mew and purr of a cat, is a native of America, and one of the most familiar of the birds 

 of that country. As may be seen by the generic title which it bears, it is one of the true 

 Thrushes. 



In its character it is one of the most affectionate of birds, as is shown by "Wilson in 

 the following passage. 



" In passing through tlie woods in summer, I have sometimes amused mj'self with 

 imitating the violent chiriimg or squeaking of young birds, in order to observe wliat 

 different species were around me ; for such sounds at such a season in the woods are 

 no less alarming to the feathered tenants of the bushes, than the cry of fire or murder in 

 the streets is to the inhabitants of a large city. 



On such occasions of alarm and consternation, the Cat-Bird is the first to make liis 

 appearance, not singly, but sometimes half a dozen at a time, flying from ditfcrout quarters 

 to tlie spot. At this time llicise who are disposed to play witli his feelings may almost 

 throw him into fits, his emotion and agitation are so great at the distressful cries of what 

 he supposes to be his suffering young. 



