48 A Natural Hiflory of 



the Crown upon his Head : Some will tell yon, 

 that thcle are certain Signs of its being a Cock ; 

 yet they do not always prove .true : But if 

 yoQ hear him fmg ftrong, you cannot be de- 

 ceived, for the Hen Birds will fing but little. 

 The Ufe of this is chiefly to know thole Birds 

 that are taken at Flight- Time ; becaufe thofe 

 taken at other Seafons, fing foon after they are 

 taken, or not at all. I cannot give any cer- 

 tain Notes to know the Cock from the Hen, 

 vvhilft Neftlings ; unlefs it be by that general 

 Remark, that the highefl: coloured Bird al- 

 ways proves a Cock, and that the biggeft, 

 and longeft bodied, and other Marks before- 

 mentioned, will hold good in fuch young 

 Birds, as well as thofe that are full feathered. 

 This Particular indeed is not very material, 

 becaufe lb few are brought up from the Neft ^ 

 it being very difficult, with the utmoft Care 

 that can be taken, to raife them ; either the 

 Cramp, or Scouring kills them ; or they die 

 in moulting. 



"The Time and Manner of their Buildings 5cc. 



IT is a very tender Bird, and yet breeds 

 early in the Spring, as foon as the Black- 

 bird^ or any other ; the young Birds being 

 ready to fly by the Middle of March. They 

 build at the Foot of a Bufh or a Hedge, or 



in 



