THE MOCKING-BIRD. 



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He i«3 about the size of a thrush, and lives in the warm parts of Nortli 

 America, where the orange-tree is seen in the gardens and the groves, and the 

 fields and the forests are adorned with millions of flowers. Here the magical 

 song of the mocking-bird is heard to perfection. He is the sweetest and the 



THE MOCKING-EIRD. 



most wonderful of the forest musicians, and his clear strong voice seems to fill 

 the whole air with a flood of harmony. 



The mellowness of his song, and the variety and brilliance of its per- 

 formance, can hardly be described. 



He begins to sing early in the season, when he has chosen his partner. 

 He flies lightly round her, his tail expanded and his wings raised, dancing, as 



