LIFE OF WILSON. ty 



good view of it."* I have been on the look-out ever since, but 

 in vain. If you can hear of such a bird, let me know. I wish 

 you also to look for the new bird which I discovered. It is of 

 the size of the Blue Jay; and is of that genus of a dull lead co- 

 lour on the back the forehead white black on the back of the 

 neck the breast and belly a dirty, or brownish white, with a 

 white ring round its neck its legs and bill exactly the Jay's. 

 Pray inquire respecting it, and any other new bird. If they 

 could be conveyed to me, drawings of them, presented to the 

 same dignified character, might open the road to a better ac- 

 quaintance, and something better might follow. Alexander and 

 you, will, I hope, be on the look-out with the gun, and kill every 

 bird that comes in your way; and keep written descriptions, or 

 the skins, if possible, of those you don't know. Were I able, 

 I would undertake another journey up to you through the 

 woods, while the birds are abundant; and nothing would give 

 me so much pleasure as to make another extensive tour with 

 you for this purpose; for I am persuaded that there are many 

 species yet undescribed; and Mr. Jefferson is anxious to replen- 

 ish his museum with the rare productions of his country." 



TO MR. WM. DUNCAN. 



Gray's Ferry, May 31, 1805. 



" Yesterday evening I was finishing a Hanging-bird in my 

 silent mansion, musing upon a certain affair y when Mr. L. pop- 



* After many inquiries, and an unwearied research, it turned out that this 

 invisible musician was no other than the Wood Robin, a bird which, if sought 

 for in those places which it affects, may be seen every hour of the day. Its 

 favourite haunts Wilson has beautifully described in its history; but so far from 

 being found always "on the tops of the tallest trees," it is seldom seen in 

 such places, but seems to prefer the horizontal branches, at no great height, 

 especially when piping its exquisitely melodious song. One of its names, the 

 Ground Robin, is derived from the circumstance of its being frequently seen 

 upon the ground. Its song consists of several distinct parts, at the conclusion 

 of each of which it commonly flies a few feet, and rests just long enough to 

 continue the strain. A' person unacquainted with these particulars, would sup- 

 pose that he heard several birds, in various quarters, responding to each other, 

 and would find it hard to believe that the whole was the performance of one. 



