ihe SINGING of BIRDS. 1 
be a fort of compenfation for their great infe- 
riority in point of gaudy plumage. Our Gold- 
Finch, however, joins to a very brilliant and 
pleafing fong, a moll beautiful variety of co- 
lours in its feathers. 
It muff be admitted, that foreign birds, 
when brought to Europe, are often heard to a 
great difadvantage *, as many of them, from their 
great tamenefs, have certainly been brought up 
by hand ; the confequence of which I have al- 
ready Hated from feveral experiments. The 
folt-billed birds alio cannot be well brought 
over, as the fuccedaneum for infecls (their com- 
mon food) is freih meat, and particularly the 
hearts of animals. 
I have happened, however, to hear the A- 
merican Mocking- Bird, in great perfection at 
Meffi's Vogle’s and Scott’s in Love- lane, Eaft- 
cheap. 
1 his bird is believed to be ftill living *, and. 
hatn been in England thefe Ex years. During 
the fpace of a minute, he imitated the Wood- 
Lark, Chaffinch, Black-Bird, Thruih, and Spar- 
row. I was told alio, that he would bark like 
a dog ; io that the bird feenas to have no choice 
in his imitations, though his pipe comes nearelt 
to our Nightingale of any bird I have yet met 
with. 
* 773 - 
