REDWING.— rwrrftts iliacus. 



hedgerows and well-wooded plantations. During the winter the birds scatter themselves 

 rather widely ; but immediately after their arrival, and before their departure, they gather 

 themselves into societies, and are then sadly persecuted by the fowler. 



The general colour of the Eedwing is a warm, rich cinnamon-brown upon the upper parts 

 of the body, the wings are rather darker, except the external webs of the quill-feathers, which 

 have a greyish tinge, and over the eye runs a well-defined streak of very pale ashen-brown. 

 The chin, throat, and whole under surface of the body are greyish-white, deepening into a 

 brownish tinge on the sides of the neck, the breast, and the flanks, and profusely studded 

 with longitudinal dashes of the same brown as that of the back. When the wings are 

 closed, the bird very much resembles the common Thrush, but when it spreads its wings 

 for flight, it discloses a large patch of orange-red feathers upon the sides of the body, from 

 which it has derived its name of Eedwing. In total length the Eedwing nearly reaches 

 nine inches. 



The Cat-Bied, so called from the resemblance which some of its notes bear to the 

 mew and purr of a cat, is a native of America, and one of the most familiar of the birds 

 of that country. As may be seen by the generic title which it bears, it is one of the true 

 Thrushes. 



In its character it is one of the most affectionate of birds, as is shown by Wilson in 

 the following passage. 



" In j)assing through the woods in summer, I have sometimes amused myself with 

 imitating the violent chirping or squeaking of young birds, in order to observe what 

 different s]3ecies were around me ; for such sounds at such a season in the woods are 

 no less alarming to the feathered tenants of the bushes, than the cry of fire or murder in 

 the streets is to the inhabitants of a large city. 



On such occasions of alarm and consternation, the Cat-Bird is the first to make liis 

 appearance, not singly, but sometimes half a dozen at a time, flying from different quarters 

 to the spot. At this time those who are disposed to play with his feelings may almost 

 throw liim into fits, his emotion and agitation are so great at the distressful cries of what 

 he supposes to be his suffering young. 



