Anthracite Coal of Pennsyloania. * 334 
and weak that the boys caught them by hand. Amongst 
these were a number, which were said never to have been 
seen here before ; their plumage was very beautiful and va- 
riegated. Amongst those of our acquaintance, was the hum- 
ming bird, goldfinch, red bird, yellow bird, &c. 
The brown thrush is one of our finest singing birds, and 
its rich and mellow tones are fully equal to those of the Canary 
bird ; from its powers of imitating the notes of other birds, it 
has acquired the name of the “ mock-bird.’? The cat-bird is 
also a singing bird, and appears sometimes to neatly equal 
the thrush ; but has not that variety and melody in its notes 
so much admired in the mock-bird. We have two or three 
kinds of sparrows, larks, snipes, the real ortolan, and marsh 
quails. The whip-poor-will, visits us with the first warm 
weather ; but I have not heard his note yet, although it is the 
31st March. The king-bird, so called from his superior 
courage and strength, is common ; and is very troublesome 
amongst our domestic bees. He watches them with great 
diligence, while they are feeding on the blossoms of white 
clover, and as many as thirty or forty bees have been found 
in the stomach of one king-bird. The wren and “ pewee’’ 
visit us in the spring, and retire on the first appearance of 
cold weather. The paroquet has been seen as far east, on 
the Ohio, as the mouth of the little Hockhocking, but is only 
a transitory visiter. Gulls are frequently seen in the summer 
before a storm, from the south-west. We have, besides those 
enumerated, many other birds whose names! do not know. 
EN OO ES 
Arr. XIV.—Anthracite Coal of Pennsylvania, ge. Remarks 
upon its Properties and economical Uses, By the Epitor, | 
I way refer my readers, for an introductory view of this 
subject, to the memoir of Mr. Cist on the anthracite of Wilkes- 
barre, published Vol. IV. page 1, of this Journal, and to the 
certificates there annexed, of practical men, relative to its uses 
and value. AsI have, however, within a few months, enjoy- 
ed considerable opportunities of observing the utility of this 
invaluable combustible, I will add a few remarks, the result 
of my own experience, and also cite some of the observations 
of others. 
