BLUE-BIRD. 317 



not are non-descripts, that infest the plumage and intestines of 

 our birds, would of itself form an interesting publication; but as 

 this belongs more properly to the entomologist, I shall only, in 

 the course of this work, take notice of some of the most re- 

 markable; and occasionally represent them in the same plate 

 with those birds on which they are usually found. 



The usual spring and summer song of the Blue-bird is a soft, 

 agreeable and oft-repeated warble, uttered with open quivering 

 wings, and is extremely pleasing. In his motions and general 

 character he has great resemblance to the Robin Red-breast of 

 Britain ; and had he the brown olive of that bird, instead of his 

 own blue, could scarcely be distinguished from him. Like him 

 he is known to almost every child; and shows as much confi- 

 dence in man by associating with him in summer, as the other 

 by his familiarity in winter. He is also of a mild and peaceful 

 disposition, seldom fighting or quarrelling with other birds. 

 His society is courted by the inhabitants of the country, and 

 few farmers neglect to provide for him, in some suitable place, 

 a snug little summer house, ready fitted and rent-free. For this 

 he more than sufficiently repays them by the cheerfulness of 

 his song, and the multitude of injurious insects which he daily 

 destroys. Towards fall, that is in the month of October, his song 

 changes to a single plaintive note, as he passes over the yellow, 

 many coloured woods; and its melancholy air recals to our 

 minds the approaching decay of the face of nature. Even after 

 the trees are stript of their leaves, he still lingers over his native 

 fields, as if loth to leave them. About the middle or end of No- 

 vember few or none of them are seen; but with every return of 

 mild and open weather we hear his plaintive note amidst the 

 fields, or in the air, seeming to deplore the devastations of win- 

 ter. Indeed he appears scarcely ever totally to forsake us; but 

 to follow fair weather through all its journey ings till the return 

 of spring. 



Such are the mild and pleasing manners of the Blue-bird, and 

 so universally is he esteemed, that I have often regretted that 

 no pastoral muse has yet arisen in this western woody world, to 



