29$ 
TRAVELS IN 
of nature. They are a kind of domeftic bird 
during their fpring'and fummer refidence in Pennfyl- 
vania, building their nefts in gardens and meltering 
themfelves in groves near the houfes. They caufe 
great trouble and vexation to hens that have broods 
of chickens, by imitating their diftreffing cries, in 
which they feem to enjoy much delight, and caufe 
fome amufement to perfons who are diverted at fuch 
incidents. They are the fir ft bird heard finging in 
the morning, even before break of day. 
They feem to be a tribe of birds feparated by 
nature from the motacillae, with which the zoologifts 
have claifed them, and appear allied to a tribe pe? 
culiar to America, to which Edwards has given the 
name of manakin. In their nature they feem to 
take place between the thrum (turdus) and mota- 
cilla, their beak being longer, itronger, and ftraighter 
than the motacilla, and formed for eating fruit, 
which is their chief food ; yet they will feed on rep* 
tile infects, but never attempt to take their prey on 
the wing. 
Catefby is chargeable with the like miftake with 
refpecl: to the little thrufh (t. minor) and the fox 
coloured thrum t. rufus both eminent fingers, and 
the latter little inferior to the mock-bird. The 
former for his fhrill, fonorous and elevated (trains 
in the high, fhady forefls ; and the latter for vari- 
ety, foftnefs and conftant refponfes in. the hedges 
and groves near houfes. 
But yet Catefby has fome right of claim to our 
excufe and j unification, for his detraction of the 
fame due to thefe eminent muficians of the groves 
and forefts, when we confider that he refided and 
made his collections and observations, in the regi- 
ons 
