ill which she leaves her eggs, when she goes a short distance for exercise and 

 refreshment, to pick up gravel, or roll herself in the dust, that, on her return, 

 should she find that any of them has been displaced, or touched by the hand of 

 man, she utters a low mournful note, at the sound of which the male immediately 

 joins her, and they are both seen to condole together. Some people imagine 

 that on such occasions, the female abandons the nest ; but this idea is incorrect. 

 On the contrary she redoubles her assiduity and care, and scarcely leaves the 

 nest for a moment; nor is it till she has been repeatedly forced from the dear 

 spot, and has been much alarmed by frequent intrusions, that she finally and 

 reluctantly leaves it. Nay, if the eggs arc on the eve of being hatched, she will 

 almost sufifer a person to lay hold of her. 



Different species of snakes ascend to these nests, and generally suck the 

 eggs or swallow the young ; l)ut on all such occasions, not only the pair to which 

 the nest belongs, but many other Mocking Birds from the vicinity, fiy to the 

 spot, attack the reptiles, and, in some cases, are so fortunate as to force them 

 to retreat, or even to kill them. Cats that have abandoned the houses to prowl 

 about the fields, in a half wild state, are also dangerous enemies, as they fre- 

 quently approach the nest unnoticed, and at a pounce secure the mother, or at 

 least destroy the eggs or }'oung. and overturn the nest. Children seldom destroy 

 the nests of these birds, and the planters generally protect them. So much does 

 this feeling prevail throughout Louisiana, that they will not willingly permit a 

 Mocking Bird to be shot at any time. 



In winter nearly all the blocking Birds approach the farm houses and plan- 

 tations, living about the gardens or outbuildings. They are then frequently seen 

 on the roofs, and ])erched on, the chimney to]is ; }-ct they always appear full oi 

 animation, ^^'hile searching for food on the ground, their motions are light and 

 elegant, and they fre(|uently open their wings as butterilies do when basking in 

 the sun. moving a stej:* or two, and again throwing out their wings. W'lien the 

 weather is mild the old males are heard singing with as much spirit as during the 

 spring or summer, while the younger birds are busily engaged in practicing their 

 songs. They seldom resort to ibc interior of the forest either during the day 

 or l)y night, but usually roost among the foliage of evergreens, in the imme(hate 

 vicinity of houses in Louisiana, although in tlie eastern states they ])refer low fir 

 trees. 



The flight of llie Mocking Bird is performed by short jerks of the body and 

 wings, at everv one of which a strong twitching motion of the tail is perceived. 

 This motion is still more ap])arent while tiie bird is walking, when it opens its 

 tail like a fan, and instantly closes it again. The common cry or call of this bird 

 is a verv mournfnl note, resembling that uttered on similar occasions by its first 

 cousin the lirown Thrasher, or. as it is commonly called, the I'rench Mocking 

 I'.ird. When tr;i\rling, this tlight is only a little i)rolonged. as the bird g<H^s 

 from [vvv to [wv. or at most across a ticld. scarcely, if ever, rising higher than 

 tlie toji ol' the i'orcNt. During this migration, it gencr.allx resorts to the highest 



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