EASTERN MOCKINGBIRD 311 



from one bird is 30, but I have no doubt that it uses many more than 

 that." 



That gifted ornithological writer Edward H. Forbush (1929), 

 speaking as a New Englander, gives the mockingbird one of the finest 

 of tributes when he says that "the Mockingbird stands unrivaled. He 

 is the king of song. * * * He equals and even excels the whole 

 feathered choir. He improves upon most of the notes that he re- 

 produces, adding also to his varied repertoire the crowing of chanti- 

 cleer, the cackling of the hen, the barking of the house dog, the squeak- 

 ing of the unoiled wheelbarrow, the postman's whistle. * * * He 

 even imitates man's musical inventions." 



T. Gilbert Pearson (1909) writes that he has "sometimes thought 

 that they must be conscious of the power of their numbers. * * * 

 The bird revels in the glory of his vocal strength, and shouts his ring- 

 ing challenge to the trees, the flowers, the very sky itself. * * * 

 However, it is at night that the Mockingbird is at his best. If he 

 is the music-prince of the grove by day, he is the song-king of the lawn 

 on moonlight nights." 



It is not surprising that, in such a species, particular individuals 

 have becom^e known for particular powers of rendition and imitation. 

 One of these is mentioned by Frank M. Chapman (1912), a specimen 

 heard by Leverett M. Loomis near Chester, S. C. This mocker imitated 

 32 different birds in a space of 10 minutes. Of it Chapman says, 

 "This was a phenomenal performance, one I have never heard ap- 

 proached, for in my experience many Mockingbirds have no notes 

 besides their own, and good mockers are exceptional." In an ob- 

 server and student of the wide knowledge and experience of Dr. 

 Chapman, this seems a strange statement. The writer, during a 

 lifetime with the mocker, would observe that there is little, if any 

 difference in the individual powers of this bird. One is as capable as 

 another. It would be difficult to assign any reason why this should 

 not be the case. Why would one be especially gifted and another not ? 



As remarkable as was the performance of the South Carolina speci- 

 men, however, its record has been eclipsed since Dr. Chapman gave 

 it prominence. E. H. Forbush (1929) quotes W. L. Dawson as saying 

 that the latter heard a mockingbird change his tune 87 times in 7 rain- 

 utes and that he was able to recognize 58 of the imitations given ! For- 

 bush had such unqualified belief in the mocker's powers that he says, 

 "Perhaps there is no song-bird * * * that the Mockingbird can- 

 not imitate to perfection." 



Despite all the foregoing, it would be reprehensible not to mention 

 that amazing bird that has come to be known as the Arnold Arbore- 

 tum Mocker, of Boston. It has been written of at length and in great 

 detail by C. L. Whittle (1922). In summarizing its astounding vocal 



