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 knpweth all 

 The songs of all the winged choristers ; 

 And, in one sequence of melodious sounds, 

 Pours all their music." 



