HAUNTS OF THE MOCKING-BIRD. 19 
for the cots of the freedmen, and there can 
be no doubting that a warm feeling for the 
bird is nursed by the ordinary negro. 
As I have suggested, the nature of the 
mocking-bird is that of a resident more than 
that of a migratory bird, and I am inclined to 
name its true habitat semi-tropical. Even so 
far South as Macon, Ga., and in the region of 
Montgomery, Ala., the chilly days of midwin- 
ter are sufficient to drive the birds to heavy 
cover. In fact, a large majority of the spe- 
cies of Mimus (Mimus polyglottus being the 
scientific name of the mocking-bird) are to be 
found in South America and in the tropical 
islands of the Atlantic. 
The plantation negroes used to have a say- 
ing which might serve the turn of Mr. Harris 
or Mr. Macon: ‘Takes a red-hot sun fo’ ter 
bri’l de mockin’-bird’s tongue, but er mighty 
small fros’ er gwine ter freeze ’im froat up 
solid.” Mr. Fred. A. Ober, in his report of 
explorations made in the Okeechobee region, 
does not mention seeing the mocking-bird, but 
it is there, nevertheless, or was in 1867. I re- 
member seeing a fine fellow flying about in 
some small bushes, near the remains of a de- 
serted cabin, on the north-eastern shore of the 
lake. I saw some paroquets at the same 
place. 
On what is known as the Dauphine Way, 
running west from Dauphine Street in Mobile, 
mocking-birds used to be numerous, nesting in 
the groves on either side and filling the air 
with their songs. Whoever has walked out 
on this lovely road will remember a low, old- 
fashioned brick house, no doubt a plantation 
residence one day, with a row of queer little 
