510 CLASS AVES. 



which have lost their way. Being of a stupid nature, they 

 allow themselves to be approached easily, and give into all 

 kinds of snares. There is scarcely any bird more silent, which 

 renders both its French and English names somewhat ludi- 

 crous misnomers. But this is nothing new in ornithology. It 

 only utters from time to time a futile cry, as thus : zi, zi, zi. 

 Prince Anersperg says, that it has a very agreeable song during 

 the love season ; but it is quite certain that the American 

 jaseur, or chatterer, has no such thing at any time. 



Both the American and European species are considered 

 good for eating. 



The DiioNGos of Africa, observed by M. Le Vaillant, live 

 in society, and assemble towards the decline of day. They 

 are very turbulent, and utter piercing cries. They live on 

 insects, and principally bees, whence they are denominated by 

 the colonists of the Cape, bey-vreter {bee-eaters), and by those 

 who are witnesses of their nocturnal meetings, without know- 

 ing the cause, they are called deywels vogel, {devilish birds.) 

 They nestle on trees, and lay from four to five eggs. Drongos 

 are also found in various parts of India, which, having the 

 same external characters with the African drongos, have pro- 

 bably the same habits. It is useless to dwell on them any 

 further, as we can add nothing interesting to the details of the 

 text. 



We now come to the great genus of the Thrush. There 

 are two natural divisions in this genus, designated by the Latin 

 names Merula and Turdus, and in French, Merles and Grives. 

 To the former of these we shall give the English appellation of 

 Blackbird, to the latter that of 77mts/i, properly so called. 

 A third division has been formed of the Mocking-birds, in 

 French Moqueurs *. 



* In thus giving the familiar denomination of a species to a group, or 

 subdivision of animals, we only follow the system pretty generally adopted 

 by naturalists, and particularly by French naturalists at present. It is 

 not our business, as humble compilers, to attempt innovation or reform ; 



