On this bird, Nuttall has the following remarks: "In a natural state he takes his station on the top of an apple tree, a stake, or a tall weed, and betwixt the amusement of his sqeuaking twitter, employs himself in darting after his insect food. Occasionally he is seen hovering over the field, with beating wing, almost like a hawk, surveying the ground or herbage for grasshoppers, which are a favorite diet. At other times they may be observed in small companies flickering over still waters in the same employment, the gratification of appetite. Now and then, during the heat of summer, they are seen to dip and bathe, in the watery mirror, and with this washing, drying, and pluming, they appear to be both gratified and amused. During the season of their sojourn, the pair are often seen moving about in company, with a rapid quiver

ing of the wings, and a continued tremulous shrieking twitter. Their energetic and amusing motions are most commonly performed in warm and fine weather, and continue, with little interruption, until towards the end of August.

"One of the most remarkable traits in the character of the King Bird, is the courage and affection which he displays for his mate and young; for on his first arrival he is rather timid, and readily dodges before the swallow and purple marten. Indeed, at this season I have seen the spotted sandpipers drive

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away a pair of King Birds, because they happened to approach the premises of her nest. But he now becomes, on this important occasion, so tenacious of his rights as readily to commence the attack against all his feathered enemies, and he passes several months of the summer in a scene of almost perpetual contest, and not overrating his hostile powers, he generally finds means to come off with impunity. Eagles, hawks, crows, jays, and in short every bird which excites his suspicion, by their intentional or accidental approach, are attacked with skill and courage; he dives upon the heads and backs of the larger intruders, who become so annoyed and tormented as willingly to make a precipitate retreat. He pursues his foes sometimes for a mile; and at length, assured of conquest, he returns to his prominent watch-ground, again quivering his wings in gratulation, and rapidly uttering his shrill and triumphant notes. He is, therefore, the friend of the farmer, as the scourge of the pilferers and plunderers of his crop and barn yard. But that he might not be perfectly harmless, he has sometimes a propensity for feeding on the valuable tenants of the bee hive; for these he watches, and exultingly twitters at the prospect of success, as they wing their way engaged in busy employment; his quick-sighted eyes now follow them, until one, more suitable than the rest, becomes his favorite mark. This selected victim is by some farmers believed to be a drone rather than the stinging neutral worker. The selective discernment of the eyes of this bird has often amused me; berries of different kinds, held to my domestic King Bird, however similar, were rejected or snatched, as they suited his instinct, with the nicest discrimination."

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is found in California and Oregon.

"From the petulant and reiterated chirp so commonly uttered by the Robin, when surprised or irritated, the Indians of Hudson Bay, call him, from this note, Pee-pee-tshu. They often, also, utter a loud echoing, 'kh 'kh 'kh, and sometimes chirp in a high or slender tone when alarmed, and with an affectation of anger sharply flirt the tail and ends of the wings. They raise several broods in a season, and considerable numbers flock together in the latter end of summer and autumn. When feeding on cherries, poke, sassafras, and sour-gum berries, they are so intent as to be easily approached, and shot down in numbers; and when fat, are justly esteemed for food, and often brought to market. In the spring they fre

quently descend to the ground in quest of worms and insects, which then constitute their principal support.

"They are commonly brought up in the cage, and seem very docile and content. They sing well, readily learn to imitate lively parts of tunes, and some have been taught to pipe forth psalms even to so dull and solemn a measure as that of " Old Hundred!" They acquire also a considerable taste for mimickry, imitating the notes of most of the birds around them, such as the blue bird, pewee, whip-poor-will, and others. On being approached with the finger, they usually make some show of anger, by cracking and snapping the bill. At times they become very tame, and will go in and out of the house with domestic confidence, feel uneasy when left alone, and on such occasions, have sometimes the sagacity of calling attention by articulating endearing words, as, pretty, pretty, &c., connecting, apparently with these expressions, their general import of attentive blandishment. They become almost naked in the moulting season, in which they appear to suffer considerably, yet have been known to survive for seventeen years or upwards. The rufous color of the breast becomes deeper in those birds which thus live in confinement. Their principal song is in the morning, and commences before sunrise, at which time it is very loud, full and emphatic.

"This bird, according to Richardson, inhabits every part of the fur countries. Nests of the Robin are found as high as the 67th parallel; and from the reports of travellers it is known to visit the northwest coast of America. It arrives in the Missouri (in lat. 411,) from the eastward, on the 11th of April; and in the course of its northerly movement, visits Severn River, in Hudson Bay, about a fort