73 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Tiger, which is likewife of feme value upon account of 

 its mufic, is fo named from its feathers being fpotted like 

 the ikin of a tiger. The Cuitlaccochi refemblcs the Cent- 

 zontli, in the excellence of its fong, as well as in fize and 

 colour, as the Coztoiotl exadlly does the Canary bird, 

 brought thither from the Canaries. The Mexican Spar- 

 rows, called Gorriones by the Spaniards, are nothing like 

 the real fparrows, except in their fize, their manner of 

 hopping, and in making their nefts in the holes of walls. 

 Their body is white upon the under-fide, and grey upon 

 the upper ; but at a certain age, the heads of fome be- 

 come red, and others yellow (e). Their flight is labo- 

 rious, from the fmallnefs of their wings, or the weaknefs 

 of their feathers. Their fong is moft delightful and va- 

 rious. There are great numbers of thefe fmging birds in 

 the capital, and the other cities and villages of Mexico. 



The talking birds too, or thofe which imitate the hu- 

 man voice, are to be found in equal abundance, in the 

 country of Anahuac. Even among the flnging birds there 

 are fome which learn a few words ; fuch as the celebrated 

 Centzontli, and the Acolchichi^ or bird with the red back, 

 which from that mark the Spaniards have called the 

 Commendador. The Cehuan^ which is bigger than a com- 

 mon thrufh, counterfeits the human voice, but in a tone 

 that appears burlcfqued ; and will follow travellers a 

 great way. The Tzanahuei refembles the magpie in 

 lize, but is of a different colour. It learns to fpeak, 

 Iteals cunningly whatever it can get, and in every refpeft 

 fliows a kind of inflindi: fuperior to what we generally 

 obferve in other birds. But of all the fpeaking birds, 

 the parrots hold the firft place ; of which they reckon, 



in 



{e) I have heard it faid, that the G on tones Yfiih. red heads are the males; and 

 thofe with yellow heads, the females. . 



