74 CEDAR BIRD. 
gap, wide; and the gullet capable of such distention as often to con- 
tain twelve or fifteen cedar berries, and serving as a kind of craw to 
prepare them for digestion. No wonder, then, that this gluttonous 
bird, with such a mass of food almost continually in its throat, should 
want both the inclination and powers for vocal melody, which would 
seem to belong to those only of less gross and voracious habits. The 
chief difference in the plumage of the male and female consists in the 
dulness of the tints of the latter, the inferior appearance of the crest, 
and the narrowness of the yellow bar on the tip of the tail. 
Though I do not flatter myself with being able to remove that pre- 
judice from the minds of foreigners, which has made them look on 
this bird, also, as a degenerate and nota distinct species from their 
own, yet they must allow that the change has. been very great, very 
uniform, and universal, all over North America, where I have never 
heard that the European species has been found; or, even if it were, 
this would only show more clearly the specific difference of the two, 
by proving that climate or food could never have produced these dif- 
ferences in either when both retain them, though confined to the same 
climate. 
But it is not only in the color of their plumage that these two birds 
differ, but in several important particuiars in their manners and habits. 
The breeding-place of the European species is absolutely unknown ; 
supposed to be somewhere about the polar regions; from whence, 
in winter, they make different and very irregular excursions to various 
parts of Europe; seldom advancing farther south than the north of 
England, in lat. 54° N., and so irregularly, that many years sometimes 
elapse between their departure and reappearance; which, in more 
superstitious ages, has been supposed to portend some great national 
calamity. On the other hand, the American species inhabits the 
whole extensive range between Mexico and Canada, and perhaps 
much farther both northerly and southerly, building and rearing their 
young in all the intermediate regions, often in our gardens and or- 
chards, within a few yards of our houses. Those of our fellow-citizens 
who have still any doubts, and wish to examine for themselves, may 
see beautiful specimens of both birds in the superb collection of Mr. 
Charles W. Peale of Philadelphia, whose magnificent museum is 
indeed a national blessing, and will be a lasting honor to his memory. 
In some parts of the country they are called Crown Birds ; in others 
Cherry Birds, from their fondness for that fruit. They also feed on 
ripe persimmons, small winter grapes, bird cherries, and a great variety 
of other fruits and berries. The action of the stomach on these seeds 
and berries does not seem to injure their vegetative powers, but 
rather to promote them, by imbedding them in a calcareous case ; and 
they are thus transported to and planted in various and distant parts 
by these little birds. In other respects, however, their usefulness to 
the farmer may be questioned; and in the general chorus of the 
feathered songsters they can scarcely be said to take a part. We 
must, therefore, rank them far below many more homely and minute 
warblers, their neighbors, whom Providence seems to have formed, 
both as allies to protect the property of the husbandman from devour- 
ing insects, and as musicians to cheer him, while engaged in the 
labors of the field, with their innocent and delightful melody. 
