2i 8 Ottober 1748. 



plumage be very fimple, and not fhowy at 

 all. At this time of the year it does not 

 fing. Linnaus calls it Turdus polyglottos, 

 and Catejby in his Natural Hijlory of Caro- 

 lina, Vol. 1. p. 27. tab. 27, has likewife 

 defcribed and drawn this bird. The peo- 

 ple faid that it built its nefls in the bumes 

 and trees, but is fo (by, that if any body 

 come and look at its eggs, it leaves the 

 neft, never to come to it again. Its young 

 ones require great care in being bred up. 

 If they are taken from their mother and 

 put into a cage, fhe feeds them for three or 

 four days ; but feeing no hopes of fetting 

 them at liberty, me flies away. It then 

 often happens, that the young ones die 

 foon after, doubtlefs becaufe they cannot 

 accuflom themfelves to eat what the people 

 give them. But it is generally imagined, 

 that the lafl time the mother feeds them, 

 fhe finds means to poifon them, in order, 

 the fooner to deliver them from flavery 

 and wretchednefs. Thefe birds flay all 

 fummer in the colonies, but retire in 

 autumn to the fouth, and flay away all 

 winter. They have got the name of Mock* 

 ing-birds, on account of their fkill in imi- 

 tating the note of almofl every bird they 

 hear. The fong peculiar to them is excel- 

 lent, and varied by an infinite change of 



notes 



