Mockingbird WESTERN BIRDS 



in, but at other times as well and when no other bird is 

 about. 



The courting dance of two birds is, also, most interest- 

 ing. With heads stretched up to full length of neck, 

 tail well raised, the performers face each other. Then 

 begins a series of chasseing back and forth, not unlike 

 human beings in an old-fashioned dance. The manner 

 of their prancings is varied but they always face each 

 other and stay near together, occupying only a small 

 circle in their movements. 



If one may judge by the actions of the Western Mock- 

 ingbird he feels that he is rightful lord of all he surveys, 

 and accordingly oftentimes bullies his smaller compan- 

 ions of the garden by driving them from the bird table, 

 even when he himself is not hungry; or belligerently 

 drives from the grounds a strange bird that enters his 

 domain. At such times a harsh scolding note is used by 

 both birds — a sort of scrat, loud, but guttural. This 

 same note announces the presence of a cat and tabby is 

 forthwith driven from the grounds, both birds flying 

 down upon her with great swoops, attacking her from the 

 back and picking her so that she is glad to flee. 



One cannot feel sorry for the cat when one knows 

 that far too many of the young Mockingbirds are eaten 

 by one of her tribe, the nestlings having a way of leaving 

 the nest when they are only nine or ten days old. 

 Though they are well feathered and their feet and legs 

 are well developed, they are unable to fly and instead of 

 staying in the vines where they would not be quite so 

 great a temptation to tabby, they usually tumble to the 

 ground and, although they can hop with wonderful 

 agility and often try to hide themselves at the clump of 

 some bush, they are no match for the prowling feline. 



And, too, the birds are fond of nesting in vines against 

 the houses, in bushes, and low trees, so that many of the 

 nestlings never live to be large enough to leave the nest. 



298 



