324 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



cate, and symmetrical in its proportions. His motions 

 are easy, rapid, and graceful, perpetually animated with 

 a playful caprice, and a look that appears full of shrewd- 

 ness and intelligence. He listens with silent attention 

 to each passing sound, treasures up lessons from any 

 thing vocal, and is capable of imitating with exactness, 

 both in measure and accent, the notes of all the feathered 

 creation. And, however wild and discordant the tones 

 and calls may be, he contrives with an Orphean talent, 

 peculiarly his own, to infuse into them that sweetness of 

 expression, and harmonious modulation which character- 

 izes this inimitable and wonderful composer. With the 

 dawn of morning, while yet the sun lingers below the 

 blushing horizon, our sublime songster, in his native 

 wilds, mounted on the topmost branch of a tall bush or 

 tree in the forest, pours out his admirable song, which, 

 amidst the multitude of notes from all the warbling host. 

 Still rises preeminent, so that his solo is heard alone, and 

 all the rest of the musical choir appear employed in mere 

 accompaniments to this grand actor in the sublime opera 

 of nature. Nor is his talent confined to imitation ; his 

 native notes are also bold, full, and perpetually varied, 

 consisting of short expressions of a few variable syllables, 

 interspersed with imitations, and uttered with great em- 

 phasis and volubility, sometimes for half an hour at a 

 time, with undiminished ardor. These native strains 

 bear a considerable resemblance to those of the Brown 

 Thrush, to whom he is so nearly related in form, habits, 

 and manners ; but, like rude from cultivated genius, his 

 notes are distinguished by the rapidity of their delivery, 

 their variety, sweetness, and energy. As if conscious of 

 his unrivalled powers of song, and animated by the har- 

 mony of his own voice, his music is, as it were, accom- 

 panied by chromatic dancing and expressive gestures ; 



M.. 



