MOCKINGBIRD 217 



Whenever I behold one of these birds perching upon 

 an isolated dead twig in the top of some tall tree and am 

 enthralled by its varied song, I congratulate the singer 

 on its escape from the limiting bars of a cage and a diet 

 of hard-boiled eggs and mush. See how this musician 

 adds zest to a lyric concert by bodily gestures and poses ! 

 In fact, the bird is rarely still during one of these im- 

 promptu musicales. These entertainments are not con- 

 fined to daylight performances ; during the breeding sea- 

 son the exquisite melody of the male bird is heard at all 

 hours of the night as he perches in some conspicuous 

 place near his mate and young. 



