which they frequent. The wood-pecker par- 

 ticularly is arrayed in the richeft plumage 

 of any bird we have, except the king-rimer ; 

 yet all his fplendid tints are perfectly har- 

 monious. The jay alfo is beautifully tinted 

 on his back, and breaft, with a light purplifh 

 hue, intermixed with grey ; and his wing is 

 perhaps the moft admirable piece of work- 

 manfhip in the whole feathered creation. 



On the fame ground with the jay, and the 

 wood-pecker, I fhould not fcruple alfo to in- 

 troduce the kite if his manners did not difturb 

 the harmony of the woods, as much as his 

 voice fupport it. Independent of his man- 

 ners, he is one of the moft harmonious ap- 

 pendages of the foreft; where Mr. Pennant 

 makes him indigenous*. He is too fmall 

 for pifturefque ufe -, but highly ornamental to 

 the natural fcene. His motions are eafy, and 

 beautiful in a great degree. He does not 

 flap his pinions, like the hern, or the mag- 

 pie ; and labour through the air : he fails 



* Brit. Zool. 



along, 



