20 MOCKIXG-BIRD. 



dive, \Nith precipitation, into the depth of thickets, at the scream of 

 •what they suppose to he the Sparrow Hawk. 



The Mocking-bird hjses little of the power and energy of his song bj 

 confinement. In his domesticated state, when he commences his career 

 of sonf, it is impossible to stand by uninterested. He whistles for the 

 dof' ; CjBsar starts up, wags his tail, and runs to meet his master. He 

 squeaks out like a hurt chicken, and the hen hurries about with hang- 

 in <^ winors, and bristled feathers, clucking to protect its injured brood. 

 The barking of the dog, the mewing of the cat, the creaking of a pass- 

 ing wheelbarrow, follow, with great truth and rapidity. He repeats the 

 tune taught him by his master, though of considerable length, fully and 

 faithfully. He runs over the quiverings of the Canary, and the clear 

 whistlings of the Virginia Nightingale, or Red-bird, with such superior 

 execution and eftcct, that the mortified songsters feel their own inferior- 

 ity, and become altogether silent ; while he seems to triumph in their 

 defeat by redoubling his exertions. 



This excessive fondness for variety, however, in the opinion of some, 

 injures his song. His elevated imitations of the Brown Thrush are fre- 

 quently interrupted by the crowing of cocks ; and the warblings of the 

 Blue-bird, which he exquisitely manages, are mingled with the scream- 

 ing of Swallows, or the cackling of Hens ; amidst the simple melody of 

 the Robin we are suddenly surprised by the shrill reiterations of the 

 Whippoorwill ; while the notes of the Kildeer, Blue Jay, Martin, Balti- 

 more, and twenty others, succeed, with such imposing reality, that we 

 look round for the originals, and discover, Avith astonishment, that the 

 sole performer in this singular concert is the admirable bird now before 

 us. During this exhibition of his powers he spreads his wings, expands 

 his tail, and throws himself around the cage in all the ecstasy of enthu- 

 siasm, seeming not only to sing, but to dance, keeping time to the mea- 

 sure of his own music. Both in his native and domesticated state, 

 during the solemn stillness of night, as soon as the moon rises in silent 

 majesty, he begins his delightful solo ; and serenades us the live-long 

 night with a full display of his vocal powers, making the whole neigh- 

 borhood ring with his inimitable medley.* 



* The hunters in the Southern States, when setting out upon an excursion by 

 night, a.M soon as they hear the Mocking-bird Ijegin to sing know that tlie moon is 

 rising. 



A ccrtnin anonymous author, speaking of the Mocking-birds in the island of 

 Jamaica, and their practice of singing by moonlight, thus gravely philosophizes, 

 and attempts to account for the habit. " It is not certain," says he, " whether they 

 arc kept so wakeful by the clearness of the light, or by any extraordinary attention 

 and vigilance, at such times, for the protection of their nursery from the piratical 

 HHsault.'* of the Owl and the Night Hawk. It is possible that fear may operate 

 upon them, much in the snine manner as it has been observed to affect some cow- 

 anlly persons, who whistle stoutly in a lonesome place, wliile their mind is agitated 

 with the terror of thieves or hobgoblins." Hist, of Jam. v. iii., p. 804, quarto. 



