XXli INTRODUCTION* 
of the butcher, became motionlefs, and quickly 
expired in the arms .of the devouring fpider, who, 
afcending the rope with his game, retired to feaft on 
it under cover of the leaves ; and perhaps before 
night, became himfelf the delicious evening repaft 
of a bird or lizard. 
Birds are in general focial and benevolent crea- 
tures ; intelligent, ingenious, volatile, active be- 
ings ; and this order of animal creation confifts of 
various nations, bands, or tribes, as may be ob- 
ferved from their different ilructure, manners, and 
languages, or voice ; each nation, though fubdi- 
vided into many different tribes, retaining its general 
form or ftructure, a fimilaiity of cuftoms, and a 
fort of dialect or language, particular to that nation 
or genus from which thofe tribes feem to have de- 
fcended or feparated. What I mean by a language 
in birds, is the common notes or fpeech, that they 
ufe when employed in feeding themfelves and their 
young, calling on one another, as well as their me- 
naces againh: their enemy ; for their fongs feem to 
be muficai compofitions, performed only by the 
males, about the time of incubation, in part to di- 
vert and amufe the female, entertaining her with 
melody* kc. This harmony, with the tender foli- 
citude of the male, alleviates the toils, cares, and 
diuretics of the female, confoles her in folitary re- 
tirement whilft fitting, and animates her with affec- 
tion and attachment to himfelf in preference to any 
other. The volatility of their fpecies, and opera- 
tion of their pafiions and .affections, are particularly 
confpicuous in the different tribes of the thrufh, fa- 
mous for fong. On a fweet May morning we fee 
the red thrumes (turdus rufus) perched on an rfe* 
vated fprig of the fnowy Hawthorn, fweet flo Ber- 
ing Crab, or other hedge ilirub, exerting their ac- 
eomplifli merits in fong, driving by varying and ele- 
vating 
