188 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



tion of sweetness and discordance of tone, 

 perfectly sui generis to this eccentric bird. 



In confinement, for which he is easily 

 obtained, and in which he is frequently 

 found, he becomes in a short time very 

 playful and familiar, singing with great 

 volubility and performing a variety of 

 amusing tricks. One specimen, which was 

 in my own collection, used to, when the 

 cage was opened, fly to me and perch 

 upon my head, shoulder or hand, gently 

 stroking me with his bill; and another, 

 which belonged to a friend, was self-edu- 

 cated to an almost wonderful degree, dis- 

 playing talents and power of acquiring 

 knowledge, perfectly untaught, almost 

 equal to man himself. 



This bird would at the commencement 

 of conversation by any of the family, or 

 when his owner, who read frequently 

 aloud, commenced that operation, though 

 sitting perfectly quiet before, interrupt 

 them, and entirely prevent any thing like 

 speaking with his intense volubility and 



