
166. THE NATURAL HISTORY - | 
In moft {pecars the middle toe is conneéted to the outer 
Berg 
toe, as far as the firft joint. : 
Manakins, in general, are very little, and 
very pretty birds. They are not much known, 
‘as they principally inhabit the extenfive woods i in 
-the warmer climates of America, and feldom 
quit them to refort to expofed fituations, or to 
approach the habitations of men, Their manner 
of flying is low, and rapid, and feldom to ge : 
‘confiderable diftance. , 
They perch not at the tops, but on the middle, 
or lower branches of trees, feeding upon wild 
“berries, and fometimes on infects. In general 
they are feen in little companies, of eight, or 
ten, moftly of the fame {pecies, but fometimes 
with other birds, even of a different genus; it 
is in a morning that they are thus collected 
together, they feem to enjoy then the fweets of | 
fociety, and exprefs their chearfulnefs by a gentle 
and pleafing warbling. In the heat of the day 
they feparate, retiring from the painful fplendour 
of the noon-day fun, into fhady retreats. They 
prefer frefh and verdant fituations, though they | 
do not haunt marthes, or the banks of ftreams. 
THE 
