variegated with blue, rose-colour, yellow, violet, and 

 white. 



Among others there is the rice-bird (the becafico 

 of America), whose ravages are so serious in the rice- 

 fields of the country. Hence it is that throughout 

 the United States a desperate war is waged against 

 the little fellow. Towards sun- set, when the rice- 

 birds darken the air and descend upon the planta- 

 tions of ripened grain, it is good fun to join in the 

 platoon firing which the sportsmen of the vicinity 

 keep up against the little thieves. Millions of these 

 birds are slain yearly by this incessant war, and 

 nevertheless, instead of diminishing in number, the 

 rice -birds seem to increase in proportion to the means 

 taken for destroying them. 



Since my narrative has led me into the warmer 

 zones, I must not forget one of the most delightful 

 of the North American birds, he whose song replaces 

 the harmonious melodies of the European nightin- 

 gale. I always remember with a feeling of genuine 

 pleasure a certain pic-nic breakfast in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Baton-Kouge, where I heard for the 

 first time the song of the Mocking Bird. This 

 singular bird, who earns its name by the admir- 

 able aptness with which it imitates the notes of all 

 the other inhabitants of the air, is as remarkable 

 for its warbling as for the agility with which it uses 

 it, for, without keeping silence for a single moment, 



