BIRDS. 2'}\ 



of a (liiTerent song from the rest, and contend with each other 

 with great ardour. The bird overcome is then seen only to dis. 

 continue its song with its life." 



This most famous of the feathered tribe visits England in the 

 beginning of April, and leaves ns in August. It is found but 

 in some of the southern parts of the country, being totally un- 

 known in Scotland, Ireland, or North Wales. They frequent 

 thick hedges and low coppices, and generally keep in the middle 

 of the bush, so that they are rarely seen. They begin their song 

 in the evening, and generally continue it for the whole night. 

 For weeks together, if undisturbed, they sit upon the same tree ; 

 and Shakspeare rightly describes the nightingale sitting nightly 

 in the same place, which I have frequently observed she seldom 

 departs from. 



From Pliny's description, we should be led to believe this 



you hear the words " Tom Kelly ! whip ! Tom Kelly ! " very distinctly ; 

 and hence Tom Kelly is the name given to the bird in the West Indies. 



The White-eyed Flycatcher is a lively, active, sociable, little bird, pos- 

 sessing a strong- voice for its size, and a great variety of notes, singing with 

 much vivacity from April to September. 



The Crested Titmouse possesses a remarkable variety in tlu> tones of its 

 voice, at one time not louder than the squeaking of a mouse, and in a mo. 

 ment after whistling aloud and clearly, as if calling a dog, and continuing 

 tliis dog-call through the woods for half an hour at a time. 



The Red-breasted Blue Bird has a soft, agreeable, and often repeated 

 wai'ble, uttered with opening and quivering wings. In his courtship he 

 uses the tenderest expressions, and caresses his mate by sitting close by her, 

 and singing his most endearing warblings. If a rival appears, lie attacks 

 him with fury, and, having driven him away, returns to pour out a song of 

 triumph. In autumn his song changes to a simple plaintive note, which is 

 heard in open iveather all winter, though in severe weather the bird is never 

 to be seen. 



The Marsh Wron can scarcely be said to sing ; but, when standing on the 



reedy hanks of the Delaware or Schuylkill in June, you may hear alo>. 



crackling sound, as of air bubbles forcing their way through mud or boggy 



toan<l when it is trod upon. These ai-e the singular notes of the marsh 



viTen. 



The notes of the House Wren are loud, sprightly, and tremulous, repeat- 

 ed every few seconds with great animation, with a trilling vivacity ex- 

 tremely agreeable. Tlie European who judges of the song of this species 

 by that of his own wren, will do great injustice to the American bird ; for, 

 in strength of tone .and execution, the house wren is far superior. He may 

 be heard on the tops of houses, even in tow-ns singing with great energy. 



From these twenty-fovu: examples, it will be seen that the American 

 iovg birds, so far from being inferior, are superior, to those of Europe, both 

 n number aad in the excellence of their music. 



