232 MOCKING-BIRD. 



accomplished musician, he sits upon a 

 lofty twig, with the whole feathered race 

 around pouring out their varied perform- 

 ances, as an accompaniment to his song; 

 forming on the whole, one of the grandest 

 overtures which the human mind is capa- 

 ble of appreciating. These wild notes of 

 his own are noted for their expression and 

 beauty, and consist of short sentences of 

 two, or three, or four syllables, which are 

 mingled with imitations, and given with 

 such ardour as to fill the breast of the 

 listener with admiration. 



But in the cage, to which he soon be- 

 comes accustomed, he is better known as 

 a songster. Here, fully as happy as in 

 his woodland home, his intelligence and 

 genius have ample scope; and he spreads, 

 by their exertion, a feeling of joy and hap- 

 piness around. Day by day, and night by 

 night, he is unceasing in his song; cloudy 

 or clear weather is the same to him; he is 

 the Shakspeare of nature, and his genius 

 never sleeps. I have set in my chamber 



