104 PLUMAGE OF BIRDS. 



full grown one, they all acquire the same general 

 tone of singing. The mockin v g-bird, in a state of 

 nature, imitates the cries and notes of its neigh- 

 bours with the greatest clearness; and the bullfinch 

 and canary may be taught to pipe a variety of tunes 

 quite correctly. The parrot kind soon learn to 

 articulate words, and will repeat a sentence, or sing 

 a song accurately both as to words and tune. A 

 parrot has been known to sing upwards of fifty dif- 

 ferent songs, keeping time with its foot, and never 

 missing a word. This famous bird, when moulting 

 and unwilling to sing, turned its back to all who 

 asked it, and repeatedly said, "Poll's sick." 



Song-birds are a delightful race of creatures. 

 During the spring and early summer, and occa- 

 sionally in autumn, the whole air is filled with the 

 sound of their gladness ; not a bush, brake, shrub, 

 hedge-row, or tree, but has its little chorister, each 

 striving with the other in a rivalry of voices. 

 The robins, the orioles, the bobolinks, the blue 

 birds, the wrens, and many others, are either resi- 

 dents with us, or periodical visiters; whilst the 

 "household-bird," the robin redbreast, throughout 

 the entire summer warbles its cheerful melody 

 close to our habitations. 



Questions. 



What birds have the most beautiful plumage ? 

 Which of our birds is very richly dressed 1 

 What is meant by the term moulting ? 

 What is the state of birds when moulting ? 



