208 HABITS OF BIRDS. 
perfect command of its voice, imitating the note of 
any sort of bird whatsoever, and excelling its ex- 
emplar. It goes far beyond the nightingale. I my- 
self kept it a long time.” 
According to Goldsmith, who appears to speak 
from private information, as he does not here, as 
usual, translate nor follow Buffon, the mocking-bird 
“is possessed not only of its own natural notes, 
which are musical and solemn, but it can assume 
the tone of every other animal in the wood, from 
the wolf to the raven. It seems even to sport itself 
in leading them astray. It will at one time allure 
the lesser birds with the call of their mates, and 
then terrify them, when they have come near, with 
the screams of the eagle. ‘There is no bird in the 
forest but it can mimic, and there is none that it has 
not at times deceived by its call. But, not like such 
as we usually see tamed for mimicking with us, and 
who have no particular merit of their own, the 
mockbird is ever surest to please when it is most 
itself. At those times it usually frequents the 
houses of the American planters; and, sitting all 
night on the chimney top, pours forth the sweetest 
and the most various notes of any bird whatever.” 
Pennant assures us that he himself heard ‘a 
caged one” in England “imitate the mewing of a 
cat and the creaking of a sign in high winds,” and 
that it not only sang, but danced, performing a great 
many gesticulations. He farther tells us that it im- 
itates the notes of all birds, from the humming-bird 
to the eagle. 
Southey, in a few lines, imbodies nearly all that 
the works we have quoted contain respecting this 
bird, which he calls 
“ That cheerful one, who knoweth all 
The songs of all the winged choristers ; 
And, in one sequence of melodious sounds, 
Poors all their music.” 
