MOCKING BIRD. 323 



or a thicket for his nest ; sometimes an orchard tree con- 

 tiguous to the house is selected for the purpose, at little 

 more than the height of a man from the ground. The 

 composition of this cradle of his species is, generally, an 

 external mass of dry twigs, leaves, and grass, blended 

 with bits of decayed wood, and then surmounted with a 

 thick layer or lining of root-fibres of a light brown color. 

 The eggs are about 4 or 5, pale green, with blotches of 

 brown scattered nearly all over. The female sits 14 

 days, usually producing two broods in a season, and is 

 often assiduously fed^ while so engaged, by the atten- 

 tive male. She is jealous of her nest, and complains 

 with a mournful note, their usual low call, when her eggs 

 have been touched, but does not readily abandon the spot 

 she has once chosen.* None of the domestic animals 

 or man himself, but particularly the cat and doo-, can 

 approach, during the period of incubation, without re- 

 ceiving an attack from these affectionate guardians of 

 their brood. Their most insidious and deadly enemies 

 however, are reptiles, particularly the black snake, who 

 spares neither the eggs nor young. As soon, as his fatal 

 approach is discovered, by the male, he darts upon 

 him \vithout hesitation, eludes his bites, and striking 

 him about the head, and particularly the eyes, where 

 most vulnerable, he soon succeeds in causino- him to re- 

 treat, and by redoubling his blows, in spite of all pre- 

 tended fascination, the wily monster often falls a victim 

 to his temerity ; and the heroic bird, leaving his enemy 

 dead on the field he provoked, mounts on the bush above 

 his affectionate mate and brood, and in token of victory 

 celebrates his loudest song. 



The Mocking-bird, like the Nightingale, is destitute 

 of brilliant plumage, but his form is beautiful, deli- 



■ Audubon, Orn. Biog. vol. i. p. 111. 



