290 BIRDS OF THE NIGHT. 



Lirds are capable of grasping a perch and sitting upon it. 

 On the contrary, they roost npon a large and nearly hori- 

 zontal branch in a longitudinal direction. The desiuu 

 of nature in this instinct is to afford the bird that con- 

 cealment which is needful for its protection in the day- 

 time. When thus placed, he is entirely hidden from sight 

 below. The Owl is protected by another mode of con- 

 cealment. He sits very erect, near the bole of the tree, 

 and draws his tail-feathers right against the branch, so 

 that he can hardly be seen from below. The Nighthawk, 

 while reposing lengthwise upon his perch, would, if his 

 foe were looking down upon him, hardly be distinguished 

 when his mottled-brown plumage made no contrast in 

 color with the bark of the tree. 



THE MOCKING-BIRD. 



I will now turn my attention to those diurnal birds 

 that sing in the night as well as in the day, and are 

 classed under the general appellation of Nightingales. 

 These birds do not confine their singing to the night, like 

 the Whippoorwill, and are most vocal by twilight and 

 the light of tlie moon. Europe has several of these min- 

 strels of the night, beside the true Pliilorael of poetry 

 and romance. In the United States the Mocking-Bird 

 enjoys the greatest reputation ; but there are other birds 

 of ^ more solitary habits and less known, among Avhich 

 are the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the "Water-Thrush, 

 that sing in the night. 



The Mockinsz-Bird is well known in the Middle and 

 Southern States, but seldom passes a season in New Eng- 

 land, except in the southern extremity, which seems to 

 be the limit of its northern residence. Probably like the 

 Grosbeak, which is constantly extending its range in 

 an eastern direction, the Mocking-Bird may be gradually 



