46 
CED A R- BIRD. 
brook the confinement of the cage ; and never sings in that state. But, 
except the Mocking-bird (Turdus foly glottos), I know of no native bird 
■which is so frequently domesticated, agrees better with confinement, or 
sings in that state more agreeably than the Robin. They generally 
suffer severely in moulting time, yet often live to a considerable age. 
A lady who resides near Tarrytown, on the banks of the Hudson, in- 
formed me, that she raised, and kept one of these birds for seventeen 
years ; which sung as well, and looked as sprightly, at that age as ever ; 
but was at last unfortunately destroyed by a cat. The morning is their 
favorite time for song. In passing through the streets of our large 
cities, on Sunday, in the months of April and May, a little after 
daybreak, the general silence which usually prevails without at that 
hour, will enable you to distinguish every house where one of these 
songsters resides, as he makes it then ring with his .music. 
Not only the plumage of the Robin, as of many other birds, is sub- 
ject to slight periodical changes of color, but even the legs, feet, and 
bill : the latter, in the male, being frequently found tipped and ridged 
for half its length with black. In the depth of winter their plumage is 
generally best ; at which time the full grown bird, in his most perfect 
dress, appears as exhibited in the plate. 
Genus XXXIII. AMPELIS. CHATTERER. 
Species. A. AMERICANA* 
CEDAR- BIRD. 
[Plate VII. Fig. 1.] 
Ampelis garmlus. Linn. Syst. i., 297, 1. 8. — Bombycill-a Carolinensis, Brisson ii., 
337. 1. Td.Zvo. 1, 251.— Chatterer of Carolina. Catesb. r., 46.— Arct. Zool. n., 
No. 207. — Lath. Syn, in., 93, 1. A. — Edh~. 242. — Cook's Last Voyage, n., 518. — 
Ellis's Voyage, ii., 13. 
The figure of the Cedar-bird which accompanies this description was 
drawn from a very beautiful specimen ; and exhibits the form of its crest 
when erected, which gives it so gay and elegant an appearance. At 
pleasure it can lower and contract this so closely to its head and neck, 
as not to be observed. The plumage of these birds is of an exquisitely 
* This species does not belong to the genus Ampelis as at present restricted, 
but to the genus Bomby cilia of Brisson, adopted by most modern Ornithologists. 
Brisson's specific name, Corolinensis, having the priority, must be adopted for 
this bird. 
Wilson was wrong in quoting Ampelis garrulus, Linn., as a synonynie. 
