260 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



priating the songs of all other birds, and even other 

 sounds, reproducing them with a truth, precision, 

 and delicacy, truly wonderful. Wilson's exquisite 

 description of the Mocking-bird, is, we regret to say, 

 too long for our pages. Our own Blackbird (T. Me- 

 rula), Throstle (T. Musicus), Mavis (T. Iliacus), 

 Missel Thrush (T. Viscivorus), &c., are also dis- 

 tinguished songsters. The general tint is brown, 

 distributed in minute dashes or spots on the under 

 parts ; some of the African Thrushes have splendid 

 metallic hues, like browned steel. 



The Ant- thrushes (Myothera*} of the tropical 

 regions of both continents are also birds of brilliant 

 plumage. The tail is short, but the legs and feet 

 are long and fitted for walking on the ground, where 

 they obtain their subsistence by feeding on ants 

 and termites : they rarely fly. Allied to these in 

 form, is the Dipper or Water Ousel (T. Cinclus) of 

 our own country, whose singular habit of walking 

 at the bottom of water, in search of aquatic larvae, 

 &c., shews a beautiful analogy with the true Wading 

 birds. 



Muscicapa,*\ the Fly-catchers. 



Leading away from the Shrikes by another road, 

 and gradually approaching the Wagtails and other 

 warblers, the Fly-catchers form another of the 

 great branches of this numerous family. They 

 have a rather broad flattened bill, the point a little 



* My /"a, myia, a fly, and f^tvu, tJiereuo, to hunt, 

 t Musca, a fly, and capio, to take. 



