travels m 
of nature. They are a kiad of domedic bird 
during their fpring and fummer refidence in Pennfyl- 
vania, building their neds in gardens and dickering 
themfelves in groves near the houfes. They caufe 
preat trouble and vexation to hens that have broods 
of chickens, by imitating their didreffing cries, in 
which they feem to enjoy much delight, and caufe 
fome amufement to perfons who are diverted at 
fuch incidents. They are the firft bird heard bing- 
ing in the morning, even before break of day. 
They feem to be a tribe of birds feparated by 
nature from the motacillse, with which the zoologifts 
have claded them, and appear allied to a tribe pe- 
culiar to America, to which Edwards has given the 
name of rnanakin. In their nature they feem to 
take place between the thrufh (turdus) and mota- 
cilla, their beak being longer, Wronger, and ftraighter 
than the motacilla, and formed for eating fruit, 
which is their chief food ; yet they will feed on rep- 
tile infebls, but never attempt to take their prey on 
the wing. 
Catelby is chargeable with the like miflake with 
refpedt to the little thrufh (t. minor) and the fox 
coloured thrufh (t. rufus) both eminent fingers, and 
the latter little inferior to the mock-bird. The 
former for his ftirill, fonorous and elevated drains 
in the high, fhady fbreds ; and the latter for va- 
riety, foftnefs and condant reiponfes in the hedges 
and groves near houfes. 
But yet Catefoy has fome right of claim to our - 
excufe and iudihcadon, for his detraction of the 
fame due to thefe eminent muficians of the groves 
and foreds, when we coniider that he redded and 
made his collections and obfervations, in the regi- 
ons 
