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gland, and in other parts of Europe, and concerning whose disappearance the learned have so much disputed. 
There are pretty good reasons for believing, that these birds perform regular migrations between Europe and 
America. It is remarkable, that they are more numerous on the western than on the eastern shore of Britain. 
They are still more numerous in the west of Ireland than in the west of Scotland. " For one Wood-Cock on 
the east-coast of Scotland there are twelve in the west, and for one in the west of Scotland there are twelve in 
Ireland."* Lord Kenmor, about the last of September, sailed from Lisbon to Falmouth, in England, and for 
ten or twelve days was becalmed on the coast of France. Every day, he saw from ten to twenty Wood-cocks ])a.s- 
sing from the west towards the land. These it was imagined, came from the continent of America. But I do 
not suppose that all our Wood-cocks thus migrate to Europe. It is pretty certain, that these birds when they 
visit us in the spring come from the south, and in the autumn they return to the south again. How far south 
they proceed, I am unable to determine. They are known in Florida, where it is not improbable, that many of 
them pass the winter-season. 
Fringilla pinus (mihi). This is one of our spring birds of passage, and I think is not described. It commonly continues 
with us until the middle or the end of April, at which time the Apple and the Pear trees are in bloom. These blos- 
soms, during some particular seasons, are remarkably infested by a species of Chermes, which proves very destruc- 
tive to the fruit. By feeding on these devouring insects, the Fringilla pinus is one of the most useful of our birds. 
This bird, the Fringilla tristis, my Fringilla exihs, and the Fringilla cannabina ? together with the Fringilla Car- 
duelis of the old world, all belong to the same natural genus, or family. They seem, in some respects, to con- 
stitute a genus distinct from the Fringilla. 
AS these Fragments profess to contain some useful observations,! I think this a proper place to observe, that many 
of the birds of Pennsylvania, and other parts of the United-States, are so extremely useful to man, by destroying 
insects and reptiles of various kinds, that they ought studiously to be preserved, if not by the Laws, at least by the 
Good-Sense, of the country. It would require many observations to give a complete list and history of these 
Useful Birds. I am not in possession of a sufficient quantity of facts for this purpose : but some observations 
I can offer, as materials for future inquirers. 
It may, in the first place, be observed, that insects appear to be the first food of almost all the birds of our country. 
The more I have inquired, the more I have been convinced, that almost all birds live, in some measure, upon insect". 
Even those species which consume considerable quantities of seeds, berries, and fruit, also consume large quantities 
of insects : and there are reasons to believe, that others whose principal food is the nectar of plants also live partly 
upon these insects. Thus Mr. Brandis % found the vestiges of insects in the stomach of the Trochilus, or Hum- 
ming- Bird, one of the last birds one woidd have suspected of feeding on animal food. 
The greater number of our smaller birds of the order of Passeres, seem to demand our attention and protection. 
Some of them feed pretty entirely upon insects, and others upon a mixed food, that is,'^lnsects and the vegetable 
seeds, &c. Many of them contribute mucli to our pleasure by the melody of their notes. I believe the injury they do 
us is but small compared to the good they render us. I shall mention, under six different heads, a few of the use- 
ful birds of this and some other orders. 
[. Muscicapa acadica of Gmelin ? This is the Lesser Crested Flycatcher of Pennant. It is called in Pennsylvania 
the Lesser or Wood-Pewe. This little bird builds in woods and in forests. After the young have left the nests, 
the parents conduct them to the gardens and habitations of men. Here the whole brood dwells in trees near the 
: houses, where they are fed with the common house-fly, and other insects, that are caught by the old birds. The 
young ones are soon capable of obtaining their food in the same way. This species of Muscicapa visits us in the 
spring, and commonly continues with us until late in September, when it retires southerly to winter. 
T. The Motacilla Sialis, or Blue-Bird, feeds principally, if not entirely, upon insects, both such as are flying and 
and such as are reptile. It is said tliey eat currants. 
* Reverend Dr. Walker, of Edinburgh. t See the motto, in the Title-Page. 
I See the article Trochilus in Gmelin's edition of the Systema Natur». Tom. I. P. 485. 
F 
