C 2 4 d ) 



black and yellow. As I have never feen any of 

 them in a cage, I can fay nothing of his fong. 

 All our woods are full of a bird of the fize of a 

 linnet, which is quite yellow, and has a delightful 

 pipe ; his fong, however, is but fhort, and without 

 variety. This has no name to diftinguiib it, but 

 that of its colour. A fort of ortolan, the plumage 

 of which is of an afh-colour on the back, and white 

 under the belly, and which is called the white-bird* 

 is, of all the guefts in our forefts the beft fongfter. 

 This yields not to the nightingale of France, but 

 the male only is overheard to ling ; the female 

 which is of a deeper" colour, utters not a fingle 

 note even in a cage ; this fmall animal is of a very 

 beautiful mien, and well deferves the name of orto- 

 lan for its flavour. I know not whither he bends 

 his courfe in the winter ; but he is always the firft 

 to return, and to proclaim the approach of the 

 fpring. The fnow is fcarce melted in fome parts, 

 when they flock thither in great numbers, and theri- 

 you may take as many of them as you pleafe. 



You rnuft travel a hundred leagues to the fouth^ 

 ward of this place before you meet with any of the 

 birds called cardinals. There are fome in Paris 

 which have been brought thither from Louifiana, 

 and I think they might thrive in France, could 

 they breed like the canary bird; the fweetnefs of 

 their fong, the brilliancy of their plumage, which 

 is of a mining fcarlet incarnate ; the little tuft on 

 their heads, and which is no bad refemblance of 

 the crowns the painters give to Indian and Ameri- 

 can kings, feem to promife them the empire of the 

 airy tribe ; they have, however, a rival in this 

 country, who would even have the unanimous voice 

 of every one, were his pipe as grateful to the ear as 

 his outward appearance is to the fight this is 



what 



