BLUEBIRD. 
177 
3'Pose lie dozes avray the winter, maliing, like Rohin- 
jj.** trusoe, occasional reconnoitring excursions from 
®astle, n henever t!ic weather happens to be fltvour- 
]j *■ But, amidst the snows and severities of winter, I 
151 ^ sought for him in vain iu the most iavourahLe 
ij°k«red situations of the middle States; and not only 
0 me jieighbourliood of the sea, hut on both sides of 
***onutains. * I have never, indeed, explored the 
■ptlis of caverns in search of him, because 1 would as 
*'^imct to meet with tulips and butterllics there, 
1 bluebirds ; but, among hundreds of woodmen, who 
l'® cut down trees of all sorts, and at all seasons, I 
f never heard one instance of these birds being 
ii'***'! so immured iu winter; while, in the uhole of 
tbe 
Vat’ . - . 
liiJb'n seems to prevail that tlie bluebird aln ays makes 
'‘I'pearance iu winter after a few days of mild and 
C** ." eather. On the other hand, I have been assured 
irentlemeu of rcspe(dahility, nho have 
Hj^'acd in the islands of Jamaica, Cuba, and the Baha- 
und Bermudas, that this veiy bird is common there 
Pi'^'uter. We also find, from the n orks of Hernandez, 
0i 
'.toiddle and eastern States, the same general obser- 
and others, that it is well known in Mexico, 
r,,j’''®a, and Brazil; and, if so, the place of its printer 
to Is easily ascertained, without having recourse 
the trumpery of holes and caverns, torpidity, 
ji?*'Uation, aud such ridiculous improbabilities. 
IS more common in Pennsylvanin tlmn to see 
Hocks of these birds, iu spring and fall, jiassing at 
(.^asiderable heights in the air; from the south in the 
and from the north in the latter season. I have 
’• mouth of October, about an hour after 
ben or fifteen of them descend from a great 
®Plfi ’• settle on the top of a tall detached tree, 
Slfg 'lug, from their silence and sedatencss, to he 
*''Sers, and fatigued. After a pause of a few minutes, 
* T • • • 1 
re f ®peak of the species here gcntTally. Solitary individuals 
firv particularly amona: our cedar trees, sometimes in tlie 
V5*ptli of winter/ 
1,. M 
