INSESSORES. 317 



Craterpodida, (Gr. crater, a wine-cup, or opening ; pous, a 

 foot,) of Australia, which have large and strong feet, and send 

 forth loud and disagreeable notes. Among the true Thrushes, 

 Merulina, is the AMERICAN ROBIN, T. migratorius, (Lat. migra- 

 tory,) whose cheerful note is always most welcome in the open- 

 ing spring, and whose large nest, in which may be seen five 

 beautiful sea-green eggs, appears to be regarded, even by boys, 

 as more sacred than others. 



THE AMERICAN MOCKING BIRD, Orpheus, (Gr. proper name 

 of a famous musician;) polyglottus, (Gr. many-tongued,) is 

 another true Thrush, having a voice capable of every variety 

 of modulation, surpassing, in this respect, even the European 

 Nightingale ; but not noted either for its gay, or its brilliant 

 plumage. The Mocking Birds are much sought after on account 

 of their extraordinary vocal and imitative powers, which remain 

 undiminished even in confinement. They are easily raised ; a 

 single bird sells for from seven to fifteen or twenty dollars; the 

 sum of fifty dollars has been paid, and that of one hundred dol- 

 lars refused for an exquisite singer. The first brood of the 

 Mocking Bird are always largest and stoutest. This bird is 

 usually about ten inches in length. The CAT BIRD, T. lividus, 

 (Lat. livid,) is an aberrant form, of Orpheus, and, in some parts 

 of the United States, very numerous. It is nearly as large as 

 the Mocking Bird, (see Chart,) and has a note which closely im- 

 itates the cry of a young kitten. The MISLETOE THRUSH, (T. 

 viscivorus, (Lat. viscus, a misletoe ; voro, I devour,) is said to 

 "surpass all other Thrushes in size, and is decidedly the largest 

 songster of the European birds." It is particularly fond of the 

 berries of the misletoe ; next to these, it prefers the berries of the 

 mountain ash. Its length is eleven inches. Some persons call 

 it the STORMCOCK, as it " pours forth its melody when the bleak 

 winds of winter roar through the leafless trees." The WATER- 

 OUZEL, or DIPPER, Cinclus, (Gr. Kinklos, the name of a bird,) 

 aquaticus, is an interesting bird, found principally in hilly places, 

 where there are clear and. rapid brooks and rivulets. It dives 

 for considerable distances with apparent ease, and may be 

 seen perched on the top of a stone in the midst of a torrent, 

 in a continual dipping motion, while watching for its food, which 

 consists of small fishes and insects. It has been said to possess 

 the extraordinary power of "walking, in quest of its prey, on 

 the pebbly bottom of a river, and with the same ease as on dry 

 land."!} Respecting this alleged power, it has been well re- 

 marked, "If the Water Ouzel, which is specifically lighter than 

 water, can manage, by some inherent power, to walk on the 



