54 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMAo 
branch sits a Brown Thrush, or French Mocking 
Bird [Turdus rufus). Nearly every morning as 
I pass, I see him on that very twig ; I have no 
doubt it is the same in dividual. Look at him^ and 
listen to his warbling : in my opinion he is one of 
the sweetest of our songsters ; 1 generally pay him 
the compliment of standing a few moments to hear 
him. Does he not seem in earnest, and full of 
enjoyment, with his broadtail spread like a fan and 
bent under the bough, his head elevated, and his 
spotted throat quivering with song, as he pours out 
his morning hymn of praise ? He is fond of singing 
from an elevated point like this ; but does not seem 
to frequent the shade of the woods. 
Now we are going through a belt of stunted pine 
woods, mixed, however, with some hard-wood trees 
of slender growth : here the beautiful Cardinal 
Grosbeak {Fringilla cardinalis) ^ delights to haunt. 
We hear its singular whistle on each side of us — 
whit, whit, whit, whit,” and there we catch sight 
of its brilliant plumage. Is he not a charming 
fellow ? Look at his bright scarlet body, wings, 
and tail, his coal-black face and red beak, and his 
fine conical crest, now erect, and now lying flat : 
with what vivacity he hops from bough to bough, 
his glowing colour flashing out like a coal of fire 
among the sombre pine shades, then again hidden 
from sight ; he cannot be still an instant. His 
vocal efforts are not confined to this monotonous 
whistle : that clear and loud song which we hear 
proceeding from the depth of the woods, and which, 
though not equal to that of the thrush, is yet 
highly melodious, is uttered by the Cardinal. Being 
easily raised, they are often caged, and are great 
* See engraving on p. 60 . 
