INTRODUCTION. 
15 
refuge of the garden, and watching, occasionally, the motions of 
the tenant, answers to his whistle with complaisant mimicry, or in 
petulant anger scolds at his intrusion. The Common Robin, who 
never varies his simple and coarse architecture.; tormented by the 
parasitic Cuckoo, or the noisy Jay, who seek at times to rob him of 
his progeny ; for protection, has been known fearlessly to build his 
nest within a few yards of the blacksmith’s anvil, or on the stern 
timbers of an unfinished vessel, where the carpenters were still 
employed in their noisy labors. That sagacity obtains its influence 
over unvarying instinct in these and many other familiar birds, may 
readily be conceived, when we observe, that this venturous associa- 
tion with man vanishes with the occasion which required it ; for no 
sooner have the Oriole and Robin reared their young, than their 
natural suspicion and shyness again return. 
Deserts and solitudes are avoided by many kinds of birds. In an 
extensive country of unvarying surface, or possessing but little va- 
riety of natural productions, and particularly where streams and 
waters are scarce, few of the feathered tribes are to be found. The 
extensive prairies of the west, and the gloomy and almost intermin- 
able forests of the north, as well as the umbrageous, wild, and 
unpeopled banks of the Mississippi, and other of the larger rivers, 
no less than the vast pine barrens of the southern states, are nearly 
without birds, as permanent residents. In crossing the desolate 
piny glades of the south, with the exception of Creepers, Wood- 
peckers, Pine Warblers, and flocks of flitting Larks ( Stumella ), 
scarcely any birds are to be -seen till we approach the meanders of 
some stream, or the precincts of a plantation. The food of birds 
being extremely various, they consequently congregate only where 
sustenance is to be obtained ; watery situations and a diversified 
vegetation is necessary for their support, and convenient for their 
residence; the fruits of the garden and orchard, the swarms of in- 
sects which follow the progress of agriculture, the grain which we 
cultivate, in short, every thing which contributes to our luxuries 
and wants, in the way of subsistence, no less than the recondite and 
tiny enemies, which lessen or attack these various resources, all 
conduce to the support of the feathered race, which consequently 
seek out and frequent our settlements, as humble and useful depen- 
dents. 
The most ingenious and labored nest of all the North American 
birds, is that of the Orchard Oriole or Troopial. It is suspended or 
pensile, like that of the Baltimore, but, with the exception of hair, 
