46 



CEDAR-BIRD. 



brook the confinement of the cage ; and never sings in that state. But, 

 except the Mocking-bird {Turdus polyglottos), I know of no native bird 

 which is so frequently domesticated, agrees better with confinement, or 

 sings in that state more agreeably than the Robin. They generally 

 suffer severely in moulting time, yet often live to a considerable age. 

 A lady who resides near Tarrytown, on the banks of the Hudson, in- 

 formed me, that she raised, and kept one of these birds for seventeen 

 years ; which sung as well, and looked as sprightly, at that age as ever ; 

 but was at last unfortunately destroyed by a cat. The morning is their 

 favorite time for song. In passing through the streets of our large 

 cities, on Sunday, in the months of April and May, a little after 

 daybreak, the general silence which usually prevails without at that 

 hour, will enable you to distinguish every house where one of these 

 songsters resides, as he makes it then ring with his music. 



Not only the plumage of the Robin, as of many other birds, is sub- 

 ject to slight periodical changes of color, but even the .legs, feet, and 

 bill : the latter, in the male, being frequently found tipped and ridged 

 for half its length with black. In the depth of winter their plumage is 

 generally best ; at which time the full grown bird, in his most perfect 

 dress, appears as exhibited in the plate. 



Gentjs XXXIII. AMPBLIS. CHATTERER. 

 Species. A. AMERICANA* 



CEDAR-BIRD. 



[Plate VII. Fig. 1.] 



Ampelis garrulus, Ltnn. Syst. i., 297, 1. /?. — Bombycilla Carolinensis, Brisson ii., 

 337, 1. Id.ivo. 1, 251. — Chatterer of Carolina, Catesb. i., 46. — Arct. Zool. ii., 

 No. 207.— Lath. &yn. in., 93, 1. ^.— Edw. 242.— Cook's Last Voyage, ii.,518.— 

 Ellis's Voyage, ii., 13. 



The figure of the Cedar-bird which accompanies this description was 

 drawn from a very beautiful specimen ; and exhibits the form of its crest 

 when erected, which gives it so, gay and elegant an appearance. At 

 pleasure it can lower and contract this so closely to its head and neck, 

 as not to be observed. The plumage of these birds is of an exquisitely 



* This species does not belong to the genus Ampelis as at present restricted, 

 hut to the genus Bombycilla of Bripson, adopted hy most modern Ornithologists. 



Brisson's specific name, Carolinensis, having the priority, must be adopted for 

 this bird. 



Wilson was wrong in quoting Ampelis garrulus, Linn., as a synonyme. 



