Book II. ^3\£1T H LO §T. ~~H? 



inclines to cinereous. The fides and Breaft, but efpecially the fides, are of a mixt 

 colour of red and cinereous. Under the Tail, and in the middle of the Belly the 

 Plumage is whiter. [In another bird the Back was of a grey or afti-colour, tinclured 

 with red: The Head and Throat greenifli : The fides and Breaft painted withtranA 

 verfe black lines.] 



' The quil-feathers in each Wing are eighteen in number, of which the nine or ten 

 foremoft for half way from the (haft inward are white. The white part from the 

 firft inward being dilated. Of the fubfequent one half is white, but not fo far as the 

 flhaft : The three inmoft or next the body are red. The tips of all from the fecond 

 to the tenth fhine with a changeable colour of purplifh and blue, like the Necks of 

 Pigeons. From the tenth the exteriour borders of the fixth or feventh fucceeding are 

 grey, elfe they are all dusky. The Tail is but fliort, of about two inches lengthy 

 compofed of twelve feathers, fpottedatthe top on their interiour Vanes with white' 

 on their exteriour in the middle feathers with red, in the outer with black. [ In ano- 

 ther bird the middle feathers of the Tail were greenifh ~] 



About Franktfort on the Main, and elfewhere in Germany, andinl^fy, it is com- 

 mon. In Summer time it lives in the Woods and Mountains 5 in the Winter it comes 

 down into the Plains. It feldom comes over to us in England, viz. only in hard Win- 

 ters. It breaks the (tones of Cherries, and even of Olives with expedition, the Ker- 

 nels whereof it is very greedy of. The Stomach of one we diffected in the Month of 

 December was full of the ftones of Holly-berries. It feeds alfo upon Hemp- feed, Pa- 

 nic, &c. and moreover upon the buds of trees, like the Bulfinch. 



It is faid to build in the holes of trees, and to lay five or fix Eggs. It weighs an 

 ounce and three quarters : Is in length from Bill to Claws feven inches and an half 3 in 

 breadth between the tips of the Wings extended twelve and an half 



$. II. 



The Virginian Nightingale : Coccothrauftes Indica criftata. 



J T is as big as a Blackbird, or fomething Jefs. A black, border compaffes the Eyes 

 and Bill 3 which is like to that of the common Hawfinch, or a little ftiorter. The 

 Head is adorned with a towring creft, which it often moves as well toward the Bill, 

 as toward the Tail. The colour of the whole is a lovely Scarlet,in the Head and Tail 

 more dilute. It is brought into England out of Virginia 5 whence, and from its rare 

 finging, it is called, The Virginian Nightingale. 



Of this Bird Aldrovandm writes thus : in its native Soil, viz. in the Iflands of Capo 

 Verde, it is commonly called Frufo, a name very like to oui Italian Frifone, [ i. e. Coc- 

 cothraufti vulgari ] to which alfo it is very like in the Bill. Moreover, a black line or 

 border encompaffes its Bill 3 and it is ( as Hieronymus Mercurials witnefles ) of the 

 bignefs of a Thrujh. Wherefore alfo we thought fit to call it Coccothrauftes Indica. It 

 greedily devours Almonds, in which alfo it agrees with the Grosbeak, which with its 

 Bill cracks fuch kind of fruits, and other Grains or ftones 5 whence it is called Nuci- 

 fiaga or Nut-cracker. And that this Bird doth the like it is very probable, feeing it is 

 likewife armed with a very thick and ftrong Bill. Mercurials affirms, 'that by the 

 Portugues it is commonly called, The Cardinal bird, becaufe it is of afcarlet [purpu- 

 ret ] colour, and feems to wear on its Head a red hat. Of the nature and qualities of 

 this Bird ^r.M^^^r, Prafedof the Phyfic-garden at Pifa, gave me this account. 

 It imitates the notes of birds, efpecially the Nightingale : it is greedy of Panic and' 

 Almonds, devours Chickpeed 5 feeing its Image in a glafs it hath many ftrange gefticu- 

 lations, making a hiifingnoife, lowring its creft, fetting up its Tail after the manner 

 of the Peacock^ ihakmg its Wings, in fine ftriking at the Looking-glafs with its Bill. 

 The temper of its body is very hot, which thence appears that it often immerfesit 

 lelt m water. It is of a very gentle nature, and will take meat out of ones hand. Its 

 hapeisasfolloweth. Ithatha tuftonits Head of a triangular figure, and fcarlet co- 

 lour, with which colour alfo the Neck, Breaft, and Belly are adorned. The ends of 

 the Wmgs are not of fo deep a fcarlet, as neither the Tail, which for the proportion 

 or the body is pretty long, of about a Palm, fomething erecl:ed,as broad as oneslittle 

 hnger. The Legs are (hort and whitifii : The Claws ftrong, and fomething crooked, 

 I he whole bird meafured from Head to Tail is full two Palms long. 



Ghap, 



