212 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHANGES OF 



satisfactory to our own minds, may be easily overturned by a single glance 

 at the manner in w^hich nature performs her operations. Admonished, 

 therefore, to resort to a better book than philosophers can write, the 

 book of nature itself, I was determined in some hour, not devoted to 

 any higher pursuits, to make the inquiry by a simple examination of 

 facts, not difficult to collect. The point in dispute seemed susceptible 

 of an easy solution, by a careful examination of those birds that are 

 subject to semi-annual changes of colour, and to ascertain if they moult- 

 ed once or twice in a year. 



The following was the result of my investigations. I copy from 

 notes taken oh a succession of visits into the country. 



February 23, 1837. Visited a country residence about two miles 

 from Charleston. Slight indications of early spring. Weather windy 

 and unsettled ; a slight frost during the night. A few of the trees in 

 the city in blossom, especially the peach and plum. In the country 

 the Laurus geniculatus, Prunus chicasa, Acer rubrum and Salix nigra, 

 the only trees in bloom. Procured a number of specimens in ornitho- 

 logy- 



The following had no change from winter plumage, and no appear- 

 ance of a moult. Mocking Bird (Turdus polyglottus), one specimen. 

 Pine Creeping Warbler (Sylvia pinus), two specimens. Sylvia coro- 

 nata, two specimens. Solitary Thrush (Turdus minor), one speci- 

 men. White Eyed Fly-Catcher ( Fireo noveboracensis), one specimen. 

 Fringilla tristis, ten specimens, of both sexes. The males of the latter 

 species differed considerably in colour in the different specimens. 

 Whilst some strongly resembled the females in their plumage, others 

 were considerably brighter in colour, especially on the breast; and in 

 two or three specimens there were irregular markings of black on the 

 frontlets, as if nature during the last moulting season had been making 

 an effort at advancing the birds to the bright plumage of which they 

 had just been deprived. 



The following had commenced moulting. Wax Bird (Bombycilla 

 Carolinensis), two specimens, males. Both birds were considerably 

 advanced in the moult ; new feathers, in great quantities, were coming 

 out on every part of their bodies ; these were much more brilliant than 

 the old, and seemed to receive their bright colours at once. Crested 



