it remains in flocks around the woods and dells till November, when it migrates southward, yet moving only so far as may be necessary for obtaining food. Many of them remain during mild winters in the forests of New Jersey, though in general the greater part proceed as far as the Southern States. In autumn, throughout New England and the Middle States, being fat and greatly relished, thousands of them are killed for the table.

The BROWN OF FERRUGINOUS THRUSH, T. rufus-the Thrasher of New England, and French Mocking-Bird of the Middle and Southern States-is the largest of our thrushes, being cleven and a half inches long. It has a varied and beautiful song, not of imitated but original notes, "sually poured out at evening from the top of some tree near its nest. Its haunts are in low, thick bushes, where it seeks concealment, though often seen glancing from one bush to another. Its food consists of worms, caterpillars, and berries, and it rears two broods in a season. Its colors are bright reddish-brown above; lower parts yellowish-white, beautifully marked with spots running in chains. It is easily tamed, and is not only a fine songster, but displays great intelligence. During the warm season it extends from Florida to Canada.

The WOOD-THRUSH, T. melodius, inhabits the whole of North America, from Texas to Hudson's Bay, arriving in the Middle States in May, and retiring in October. It is eight inches long; above fulvous-brown, below white, tinged with buff. It is shy, living in pairs in low, thick-shaded glens and hollows. Its nest is of withered leaves and stalks of grass, mixed with mud, and nicely plastered, the interior being lined with fine fibrous roots of plants; the eggs are four to five. This is one of our most pleasing songsters.

The GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH or OVEN-BIRD, T. aurocapillus, is a summer visitant throughout most of the United States; it is six inches long, of a yellow-olive above and white beneath. It is shy and retiring, and sits and runs along the ground like a lark. Its nest is sunk in the ground on some dry, bushy bank, being oven-shaped, and made of dry blades of grass; it is covered exteriorly with leaves and twigs, to match the surface around, for the purpose of concealment. It rears two broods in a season, and not unfrequently becomes the foster-parent of young cow-troopials, whose mothers surreptitiously deposit their eggs in the nest. Its food consists of insects. The AQUATIC THRUSH, or NEW YORK WARBLER, T. aquaticus, haunts the borders of streams, and often wades in shallow rivulets in search of aquatic insects, moving its tail as it follows its prey, and chattering as it flies. It is six inches long, dark olive above, and extends its migrations throughout the United States.

The CAT-BIRD, T. felivox or T. lividus, is one of our most familiar birds, coming from the south in spring, and breeding in bushes and thickets, from which it frequently utters its cry, resembling the vigorous mewing of a cat, at the same time assuming an appearance of the greatest agitation and anxiety. It is nine inches long, of a dark slate-color, and paler beneath. Its food consists of insects, beetles, and various garden fruits, especially cherries. It is a fine songster, its notes resembling those of the ferruginous thrush, though they are often made up in part of blended imitations of other birds. This song, often heard late in the evening as well as early in the morning, is very pleasing. Yet the cat-bird is a common object of persecution, especially to boys in the country, who seldom let an opportunity slip to hurl a stone at it. This arises, no doubt, from a sort of impertinent familiarity which this bird assumes, and from its caterwaul, which, as it is uttered. from its bushy retreat, often appears like a meditated personal insult to the passer by. The catbird is also a notorious cherry thief, and, taking the best, naturally provokes hostility.

The CURVED-BILLED THRUSH-Toxostoma rediviva of Gambel-is eleven and a half inches long, light brown above, breast and sides light brown, tinged with rufous; an exquisite and powerful songster, equal to the brown thrush; found in California and New Mexico.

The TAWNY THRUSH, T. Wilsonii, is ten inches long, and of a tawny-brown above and white below; it comes from the south in May, and has no song but a sharp chuck.

The HERMIT-THRUSH, T. solitarius, is seven inches long; deep olive above, and dull white below; is stationary in the Southern States.

The VARIED THRUSH, T. nævius, is ten inches long; above leaden-gray, below reddish-orange; found in California and the fur countries.

The DWARF THRUSH, T. nanus, is six inches long; olive-brown above, beneath grayish-white; found on the Columbia River.

THE FORMICARINE OR ANT-THRUSHES.

THE GIANT PITTA.

These, to the East Indian species of which Buffon gave the name of Breves, resemble the true thrushes, but inhabit tropical portions. of both hemispheres, where they live chiefly on insects, and devour large quantities of ants, whence their name. Their wings are generally short, and some of the species, as the Pitta Nipalensis, for instance, have such limited powers of flight that a man can easily overtake them. Those of the genus Pitta, which are peculiar to the castern hemisphere, are adorned with exceedingly brilliant plumage, azure-blue being the prevalent tint. Of this is the GIANT PITTA, P. gigas, of the size of a magpie, and of a brilliant green color: found in Sumatra. The numerous South American species are of more sober colors, mostly brown and white. They obtain their living chiefly from the enormous ant-hills of the regions in which they live. Griffith says of these birds, "they are essentially gigantic wrens.

Of the genus CINCLUS there is a single European species, the well-known Water

OUSEL or DIPPER, C. aquaticus. This is eight inches long, dark gray above, the neck white, the belly brownish-red. Its wings are longer than those of most others of the group, and it flies steadily and rapidly. Its haunts are along the borders of clear streams and lakes; it swims with ease, and dives freely into the water, and walks about on the bottom with facility, even making its way against a strong current. Its food consists of small shell-fish and insects. The nest is oven-shaped, and made on the banks of streams: the eggs pure white, five or six in number.

There are one or two other species known in Europe and Asia, and one in America, the BLACK DIPPER, C. Pallasii: this resembles the common European dipper, but is of a darker color, and is without the white mark on the throat. It is found in Mexico and parts of Upper Canada.

This is a very extensive family, including the Wagtails, Titlarks, Bush-Creepers, Titmice, Robins, Nightingales, and True Warblers—noted for their sprightliness, and many of them for their fine musical powers.

THE MOTACILLINE OR WAGTAILS.

This group includes a large number of species of small birds, belonging to Europe, Asia, and Africa, generally of sober colors, but beautiful in form. Some are fine songsters; all are distinguished for vivacity and sprightliness of air and manner. The bill is moderately long, straight, and slender; the wings long and pointed; the tail nearly twice the length of the body, and remarkable for a constant jerking motion, which has given these birds their common name. They live in meadows and pastures, run swiftly, and have an exceedingly graceful, buoyant, and undulating

flight. On alighting upon the ground, they spread the tail, and while running along, constantly vibrate the body and tail in a very singular manner. Their food consists of insects and worms; their nests are made upon the ground, amid herbage and stones, and they lay from four to six spotted eggs. Their note is short and shrill, and is often repeated as they run about in search of their prey. They frequent streams and pools, and may often be seen wading in shallow brooks. This habit of dabbling in the water has given them the name of Lavandières, or Washer-women, in France.

These birds are common in Europe, several species being known in Great Britain. The genus MOTACILLA includes the PIED WAGTAIL, M. Yarrellii, which is seven inches long; upper parts, sides, and flanks, black, variously marked with white; breast, belly, and under tail-coverts, white. It is a very sprightly bird, ever in motion, running about or moving from place to place by short, undulating flights, uttering a cheerful note, and alighting again on the ground with a sylph-like buoyancy, and a graceful, fanning motion of the tail. This species remains in Southern Europe throughout the year.

Other species are the WHITE WAGTAIL, M. alba, a summer visitor to Britain; the Gray WagTAIL, M. boarula, chiefly confined to Southern Europe; the GRAY-HEADED WAGTAIL-called Bergeronnette in France-M. flava, common in Central and Northern Europe, but rare in Great Britain; the YELLOW WAGTAIL OF RAY'S WAGTAIL, M. Rayi, avoiding wet lands, and seeking arable fields; a rare species throughout the continent; the WHITE-WINGED WAGTAIL, M. lugubris, is found in Eastern Europe; the KING-KING, M. speciosa, is but four and a half inches long, and belongs to Java. There are still other species in Asia and Africa, and it may be remarked that those we have noticed as found in Europe are also, for the most part, found in these other divisions of the eastern continent.

These birds resemble the wagtails, and also make a close approach to the larks. They feed on seeds and insects. Of the genus ANTHUS there are several species. The MEADOW PIPIT or TITLARK, A. pratensis-Farlouse des prés of the French-is six inches long; grayish-red above, and yellowish-red below. It frequents stony and arid slopes, lives on insects, worms and slugs, makes its nest in the sand against a rock or stone, and lays four to six eggs. The female has the habit of many other birds, that of pretending to be wounded, so as to draw off attention from her eggs or her young, when a stranger approaches them. It is a summer visiter throughout the temperate parts of Europe.

Other species are the TREE-PIPIT, A. arboreus, found as a summer visitor in wooded and cultivated districts from Italy to Denmark; the ROCK-PIPIT, A. petrosus-the Field-Lark, A. campestris of Bewick, Pipi-Rousselin of the French-inhabiting flat shores along the sea; is found in the maritime parts of Southern Europe: RICHARD'S PIPIT, A. Ricardi, frequents old pastures; found in Europe along the Mediterranean, and rarely in France and England; and A. Spinoletta—A. aquaticus of Bechstein-common throughout Europe. These are all migratory.

The AMERICAN PIPIT or TITLARK, A. Ludovicianus—the Brown or Red Lark of Nuttall—is six and a half inches long; upper parts grayish-brown; beneath dusky white; breast spotted with black; eggs four to five; builds in mountainous districts; winters in Louisiana, and migrates, northward as far as latitude 63° in summer. It breeds in Labrador and the fur countries.

THE MNIOTILTINÆ OR BUSH-CREEPERS.

These are small birds, found in both hemispheres, residing in woods and thickets, and feeding on insects, worms, and spiders. In pursuit of their prey they creep about upon the bushes with great facility, examining every leaf, and poking their heads into flowers to capture the minute insects that seek shelter among the petals. They are very sociable, and assemble in flocks, frequently mingling with other birds. Their nests are very curious, sometimes arched over, and sometimes suspended by fibers of bark to the thin twigs of trees. One of the most common species is the Zosterops palpebrosus, common in India. This is often seen with its forehead powdered with pollen, acquired during its inspection of the flowers.

These lively and courageous little birds, called Mésange by the French, are common to both continents. In England they are popularly called Tits, Tomtits, and Titmice; in America, Chickadees, from the call or cry of one of the most common species. About fourteen European species are known, twelve in North America, and several in India, the Himalaya Mountains, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. They are found principally in wooded districts, where they feed upon insects and larvæ, which they capture both upon the bark and leaves of the trees and shrubs. In search of these they may be seen clinging in every variety of attitude to the branches and twigs; and when thus engaged, from the sprightliness of their whole behavior, they are exceedingly pleasing objects. They are seen engaged in this manner in gardens, where they climb about the fruit-trees in every direction, and often destroy a good many buds in their search for insects contained in them. They build their nests in various situations-in cavities in walls, in hollow trees, and on the branches of trees.

The Genus PARUS: Parus, contains several species: the GREAT TITMOUSE, P. major, is somewhat less than six inches long; the upper parts are greenish-ash; the breast, sides, and flanks, dull sulphur-yellow. It inhabits woods, the vicinity of gardens, and sheltered situations, in summer, feeding often on seeds. In winter it approaches the habitations of man, and closely examines the thatch of old buildings in search of the small flies that harbor there. In September the VOL. II.-18