INTRODUCTION. 
vating their voices to excel each other ; we obferve 
a very' agreeable variation, not only in tone but in 
modulation ; the voice of one is fhrill, of another 
lively and elevated, of others fonorous and quiver- 
ing. The mock-bird (turdus polyglottos) who ex- 
cels, diftinguifhes himfelf in a variety of a&ion as 
well as air ; from a turret he bounds aloft with the 
celerity of an arrow, as it were to recover or recal 
his very foul, expired in the lad elevated (train. 
The high forefts are filled with the fymphony of the 
fong or wood thrum (turdus minor) 
Both fexes of fome tribes of birds fing equally 
finely ; and it is remarkable, that thefe reciprocally 
affift in their domeftic cares, as building their neils 
and fitting on their eggs, feeding and defending 
their young brood, &c. The oriolus (iclerus, Cat.) 
is an inftance of this cafe ; and the female of the 
icterus minor is a bird of more fplendid and gay 
drefs than the male bird. Some tribes of birds will 
relieve and rear up the young and helplefs, of their 
own and other tribes, when abandoned. Animal 
fubftance feems to be the firft food of all birds, even 
the granivorous tribes. 
Having palled through fome remarks, which ap» 
peared of fufficient confequence to be offered to the 
public, and which were mod fuitable to have a place 
in the introduction, I mall now offer fuch observa- 
tions as muff neceffarily occur, from a careful atten- 
tion to, and investigation of, the manners of the 
Indian nations; being induced, while travelling 
among them, to affociate with them, that I mio-fTt 
judge for myfeif, whether they were defending" of 
the fevere cenfure which prevailed againll them 
among the white people, that they were incapable 
of civilization. 
In the confideration of this important fubjecl it 
will be neceffary to inquire, whether they were in- 
z ' clin.ed 
