[ z8 S 1 
this fuperiority in the European birds to be a fort 
of compen fation for their great inferiority in point of 
gaudy plumage. Our goldfinch, however, joins 
to a very brilliant and pleafing fong, a mod beautiful 
variety of colours in its feathers*. 
It mud be admitted, that foreign birds, when 
brought to Europe, are often heard to a great difad - 
vantage; as many of them, from their great tams- 
nefs, have certainly been brought up by hand, the 
confcquence of which I have already dated from fe- 
veral experiments. The foft-billed birds alfo cannot 
be well brought over, as the fuccedaneum for infedts 
(their common food) is frefh meat, and particularly 
the hearts of animals. . 
I have happened, however, to hear the American 
mocking-bird in great perfection at Meff. Vogle’s 
and Scott’s, in Love-lane, Eadcneap. 
Th is bird is believed to be dill living, and hath 
been in England thefe fix years. During the fpace 
of a minute, he imitated the woodlark, chaffinch, 
blackbird, thrudi, and fparrow. I was told alfo, 
that he would bark like a dog; fo that the bird 
feems to have no choice in his imitations, though 
his pipe comes neared to our nightingale of any bird 
I have yet met with. 
With regard to the original notes, however, of 
this bird, we are dill at a lofs ; as this can only be 
* I cannot but think, that there would be a demand for thefe 
biids in China, as the inhabitants are very fedentary, and bird 
cages are commonly repreferited as hanging in their rooms. 1 I 
have been informed, by a Tyrokze," that his. bed market 'for 
Canary birds was Coniiantinople. 
P p ' 2 w 
known 
