416 American Song Birds. 



sion suspended. The finale is beautifully managed, with so 

 fine an effect as to appear sweeter and mellower at each suc- 

 cessive repetition. Rival songsters, in different parts of a 

 wood, seem to vie with each other in the softness of their 

 tones, and the exquisite finish of their responses. During the 

 heat of the day they are comparatively mute, but they renew 

 their song at the close of day, and continue it long after sun- 

 set. Even in dark gloomy weather, during May and June, 

 when scarce a chirp is heard from any other bird, the wood 

 thrush sings from morn till night; and it may be said with jus- 

 tice, that the sadder the day the sweeter is his song. Those 

 who have paid attention to the singing of birds know well that 

 their voice, energy, and expression differ as widely as in man ; 

 and, agreeably to this remark, Wilson says he was so familiar 

 with the notes of an individual wood thrush, that he could 

 recognise him from all his fellows the moment he entered the 

 woods. 



The Mocking-bird (2urdus polyglottus) seems to be the 

 prince of all song birds, being altogether unrivalled in the 

 extent and variety of his vocal powers ; and, besides the fulness 

 and melody of his original notes, he has the faculty of imi- 

 tating the notes of all other birds, from the humming-bird to 

 the eagle. Pennant tells us that he heard a caged one, in 

 England, imitate the mewing of a cat and the creaking of a 

 sign in high winds. The Hon. Daines Barrington says his 

 pipe comes the nearest to our nightingale, of any bird he ever 

 heard. The description, however, given by Wilson, in his 

 own inimitable manner, as far excels Pennant and Barrington 

 as the bird excels his fellow-songsters. Wilson tells that the 

 ease, elegance, and rapidity of his movements, the animation 

 of his eye, and the intelligence he displays in listening and 

 laying up lessons, mark the peculiarity of his genius. His 

 voice is full, strong, and musical, and capable of almost every 

 modulation, from the clear mellow tones of the wood thrush 

 to the savage scream of the bald eagle. In measure and 

 accents he faithfully follows his originals, while in force 

 and sweetness of expression he greatly improves upon them. 

 In his native woods, on a dewy morning, his song rises 

 above every competitor, for the others seem merely as in- 

 ferior accompaniments. His own notes are bold and full, 

 and varied seemingly beyond all limits. . They consist of 

 short expressions of two, three, or at most five or six, sylla- 

 bles, generally expressed with great emphasis and rapidity, 

 and continued with undiminished ardour, for half an hour or 

 an hour at a time. While singing, he expands his wings and 

 his tail, glistening with white, keeping time to his own music, 



