THE MOCiaNG-BIHD. 183 



of its species, and was not, in consequence, initiated into the songs of its fraternity ; 

 and the result was, the absorption of uU its vocal abilities in a bad but ver\' loud imitation 

 of the chirpings of sundry vulgar sparrows that were accustoniod to percjj on tlio 

 ncighboui'iug houses ; and it used, with obvious complacency and commendable diligence, 

 thus to exercise all the musical powers of whicli it was possessed. In a somewhat 

 similar manner to that of this unfortunate canary, does the mocking-bii'd give way to 

 the influence of example, and thus his imitations of the bro\vn thrush are frequently 

 interrupted by the crowing of cocks ; the exquisite warblings of the blue-bird are by no 

 means improved by the screaming of swallows, or the cackling of hens ; the shrill reitera- 

 tions of the whip-poor-will are introduced into the simple melody of the robin ; while the 

 notes of the kildeer, the blue-jay, martin, baltimore, and twenty others, succeed with 

 such surprising accuracy, that the uninitiated look round for the originals, and then find 

 that what appeared to be the product of a number of performers is really that of the 

 single bird before us. In both his native and domestic condition, during the solemn 

 stillness of night, as soon as the moon rises in silent majesty, he begins his delightful 

 solo ; and continues throughout the livelong night to give a full display of his vocal 

 powers, and to make the neighbourhood ring wiih his inimitable melody. 



The female is described as so tenacious of her eggs, as to sulfer herself to be taken with 

 the nest. Bechstein says, that the parent birds rear only one brood in a season, which 

 helps to account for the scarcity of this beautifid bird. The young in its first plumage, 

 is of a dusk}' j^eUowish gray tint above, each feather having the central part grayish 

 brown ; the lower parts are yellowish white, each feather having a central brown line ; 

 the sides and lower tail-coverts are of a bright yellow ; the wings and tail are brown, 

 and marked with yellow, as in the adult. The male is easih' distinguishable from the 

 female by its lighter colour. A writer in the " Naturalist " states, that he saw a pair 

 of young bii-ds, in nearly full plumage, exhibited for sale in the public market at 

 Cologne, for which the moderate sum of three shillings was asked. 



THE WATEK-OTJZEL. 



Of the water-ouzel a graphic picture has been given by the poet : — 



The bii-d 

 Is hero — the solitary bird that makes 

 The rock his sole companion. Leafy vale, 

 Green bower, and hedge-row fair, and garden rich 

 With bud and bloom, delight him not ; — he bends 

 No spray, nor roams the wilderness of boughs, 

 "WTiere love and song detain a million wings 

 Through all the smimier morn — the summer eve ;^ 

 He has no fellowship -sN-ith waving woods, — 

 He joins not in their meny minstrelsy, — 

 But hits fi'om ledge to ledge, and tlirough the day 

 Sings to the highland waterfall, that speaks 

 To him in strains he loves, and lists 

 For ever. 



"Many a time between Buxton and Bakewell," says Mr. W. C. S. Martin, "have we 

 watched the water-ouzel, conspicuous from his snowy breast and russet plumage, no less 

 than for his singular actions and attitudes. He may be seen on some gray limestone 

 mass, rising a foot or two out of the water, in the centre, or at the margin, of the stream ; 

 his movements smart and lively, and often grotesque. He jerks his head, — dips it down 

 — and, at the same time, flirts up his short tail ; then, in an instant, he plunges into the 

 water and disappears ; suddenly he rises at some distance, and settles again on a jutting 



