^^ iHE MOCKING BIRD. 



Bf America, from the Middle States to Brazil. His food 

 consists of insects, berries, and worms. 



ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES. 



Mr. Wilson, an enthusiastic admirer of the Mocking Bird, 

 thus describes his song : — 



The Mocking Bird loses little of the power and energy 

 of his song by confinement. In his domesticated state, 

 when he commences his career of song, it is impossible to 

 stand by uninterested. He whistles for the dog, — Caesar 

 starts up, wags his tail, and runs to meet his master. He 

 squeaks out like a hurt chicken, — and the hen hurries 

 about with hanging wings, and bristled feathers, clucking 

 to protect its injured brood. The barking of the dog, the 

 mewing of the cat, the creaking of a passing 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 nightin- 

 gale, or red-bird, with such superior execution and effect, 

 that the mortified songsters feel their own inferiority, and 

 become altogether silent ; while he seems to triumph in their 

 defeat by redoubling his exertions. 



Were it not to seem invidious in the eyes of foreigners, I 

 might, in this place, make a comparative statement between 

 the powers 3f the Mocking Bird, and the only bird, I believe^ 

 in tlie world, worthy of being compared with him. — ^th* 



