LIFE OF WILSON. 
xxxix 
is not suiEcieutly unlike all the members of its family there to be considered 
as specifically different; on this general observation I conclude with confidence 
that your jay is not a European bird. 
" The first bird on the same sheet I judge to be a Muscicapa from its bill, 
as well as from the following circumstance. Two or three days before my 
arrival here a neighbor killed a bird, unknown to him, and never before seen 
here, as fav as he could leurn ; it was brought to me soon after I arrived ; but 
in the dusk of the evening, and so putrid that it could not be approached but 
with disgust. But I retain a sufficiently exact idea of its form and colors to 
be satisfied it is the same with yours. The only diflference I find in yours is 
that the white on the back is not so pure, and that the one I saw had a little 
of a crest. Your figure, compared with the white-bellied Gobe-mouvJic, 8 Buff. 
342, PI. enlum. 566, shows a near relation. Buffoa's is dark on the back. 
" As you are curious in birds, there is one well worthy your attention, to be 
found, or rather heard, in every part of America, and yet scarcely ever to be 
seen; it is in all the forests, from spring to fall, and never but on the tops of 
the tallest trees, from which it perpetually serenades us with some of the 
sweetest notes, and as clear as those of the nightingale. I have followed it 
for miles without ever, but once, getting a good view of it. It is of the size 
and make of the mocking-bird, lightly thrush-colored on the back, and a gray- 
ish-white on the breast and belly. iMr. Randolph, my son-in-law, was in pos- 
session of one which had been shot by a neighbor; he pronounces this also a 
Muscicapa, and I think it much resembling the Mouche-roUe de la 31urtinlque, 
8 BufFun, 374, PI. enlum. 568. As it abounds in all the neighborhood of 
Philadelphia, you may perhaps by patience and perseverance (of which much 
will be requisite) get a sight, if not a possession of it. I have for twenty 
years interested the young sportsmen of my neighborhood to shoot me one; 
but as yet without success. Accept my salutations and assurances of respect. 
Th. Jefferson." 
To Mr. Wm. Bartram. 
" April 18th, 1805. 
"By Mr. Jefferson's condescending and very intelligent letter to me, which 
I enclose for your perusal, it appears that our jay is an entirely new, or rather 
undescribed bird, which met me on the banks of the Mohawk, to do me the 
honor of ushering him to the world. This duty I have conscientiously dis- 
charged, by introducing him to two naturalists : the one endeared to me, and 
every lover of science, by the benevolence of his heart; and the other or- 
dained by Heaven to move in a distinguished orbit — an honor to the human 
race — the patron of science^ and best hope of republicans ! I say, that no bird, 
since Noah's days, could boast of such distinguished honor. 
"Mr. Jefferson speaks of a very strange bird; please let me know what it 
is ; I shall be on the look-out, and he must be a sly fellow if he escape me. I 
shall watch his motions, and the sound of his serenade, pretty closely, to be 
able to transmit to our worthy president a faithful sketch of a bird, which he 
has been so long curious to possess." 
