MOCKING BIRD. 325 



he spreads and closes his light and fanning wings, ex- 

 pands his silvered tail, and, with buoyant gayety and en- 

 thusiastic ecstacy, he sweeps around, and mounts and de- 

 scends into the air from his lofty spray, as his song swells 

 to loudness, or dies away in sinking whispers. While 

 thus engaged, so various is his talent, that it might be 

 supposed a trial of skill from all the assembled birds of the 

 country ; and so perfect are his imitations, that even the 

 sportsman is at times deceived, and sent in quest of birds 

 that have no existence around. The feathered tribes 

 themselves are decoyed by the fancied call of their 

 mates ; or dive with fear into the close thicket, at the 

 well-feigned scream of the hawk. 



Soon reconciled to the usurping fancy of man, the 

 Mocking-bird often becomes familiar with his master ; 

 playfully attacks him through the bars of his cage, or at 

 large in a room ; restless and capricious, he seems to 

 try every expedient of a lively imagination, that may 

 conduce to his amusement. Nothing escapes his dis- 

 cerning and intelligent eye or faithful ear. He whis- 

 tles perhaps for the dog, who, deceived, runs to meet his 

 master ; the cries of the chicken in distress bring out 

 the clucking mother to the protection of her brood. — 

 The barking of the dog, the piteous wailing of the puppy, 

 the mewing of the cat, the action of a saw, or the creak- 

 ing of a wheelbarrow, quickly follow with exactness. 

 He repeats a tune of considerable length ; imitates the 

 warbling of the Canary, the lisping of the Indigo bird, 

 and the mellow whistle of the Cardinal, in a manner so 

 superior to the originals, that mortified and astonished, 

 they withdraw from his presence, or listen in silence, 

 as he continues to triumph by renewing his efforts. 



In the cage also, nearly as in the woods, he is full of 

 life and action, while engaged in song ; throwing him- 

 28 



