ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 
Statius also takes notice of some birds speak- 
ing, which we never attempt to teach in this 
manner : 
«© Huc docte stipentur aves, queis nobile fandi 
*¢ Jus natura dedit, plangat Phcebeius ales, 
** Auditasque memor penitus demittere voces 
** Sturnus, & Aonio verse certamine pice ; 
** Quique refert jungens iterata vocabula perdix, 
«© Et que Bistonio queritur soror orba cubili.”* 
Stat. Sylv. lib. ii. ecl. 4. 
* Amongst the five birds mentioned in these lines of Sfatius, 
there are four which are never taught to speak at present, viz. 
the cock, the nightingale, the common, and the red legged 
partridge. 
As I suppose, however, that perdiwx signifies this last bird, and 
not the common partridge (as it is always translated), it is proper 
I should here give my reasons why I dissent from others, as also 
why I conceive that séurnus, in this passage, is not a starling, 
but the common partridge. 
None of the ancients have described the plumage of the per- 
dix; but Aristotle, Ovid, and Pliny, inform us of what mate- 
rials the nest of this bird is composed, as well as where it is 
placed. 
Aristotle says, that the nest is fortified with wood;+ and in 
another chapter,t with thorns and wood; neither of which are 
used by the common partridge, which often builds in a country 
where they cannot be procured. 
On the contrary, M. de Buffon informs us, that the red leg- 
ged partridge, ‘‘ se tiennent sur les montagnes qui produisent 
beaucoup de bruyeres, & de broussailles.§ 
+ Ennavyatomevou vAnv. Lib. V.c. 1. Which Stephens renders making 
@ covering of wood. 
+ Lib. TX. c. 8. The common partridge, however, makes its nest with 
hay and straw. 
§ Orn, T. II. p. 433. 
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