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 



