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58 BLUE-BIRD. 



resting publication ; but as this belongs more properly to the en- 

 tomologist, I shall only in the course of this work, take notice of 

 some of the most remarkable ; and occasionally represent them in 

 the same plate with those birds on which they are usually found. 



The usual spring and summer song of the Blue-bird is a 

 soft, agreeable and oft-repeated warble, uttered with open quiver- 

 ing wings, and is extremely pleasing. In his motions and general 

 character he has great resemblance to the Robin Red-breast of 

 Britain ; and had he the brown olive of that bird, instead of his 

 own blue, could scarcely be distinguished from him. Like him he 

 is known to almost every child ; and shews as much confidence in 

 man by associating with him in summer, as the other by his fami- 

 liarity in winter. He is also of a mild and peaceful disposition, 

 seldom fighting or quarrelling with other birds. His society is 

 courted by the inhabitants of the country, and few farmers neglect 

 to provide for him in some suitable place, a snug little summer- 

 house, ready fitted and rent-free. For this he more than suffi- 

 ciently repays them by the cheerfulness of his song, and the mul- 

 titude of injurious insects which he daily destroys. Towards Fall, 

 that is in the month of October, his song changes to a single plain- 

 tive note, as he passes over the yellow, many-colored woods ; and 

 its melancholy air recals to our minds the approaching decay of 

 the face of nature. Even after the trees are stript of their leaves, 

 he still lingers over his native fields, as if loth to leave them. About 

 the middle or end of November, few or none of them are seen ; 

 but with every return of mild and open weather we hear his plain- 

 tive note amidst the fields, or in the air, seeming to deplore the 

 devastations of winter. Indeed he appears scarcely ever totally to 

 forsake us; but to follow fair weather thro all its journeyings till 

 the return of spring. 



Such are the mild and pleasing manners of the Blue-bird, and 

 so universally is he esteemed, that I have often regretted tliat no 

 pastoral muse has yet arisen in this western woody world, to do 



