332 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



except, as we have fancied, that the latter is less 

 spirited and sprightly *. 



" The native notes of the mocking-bird," ac- 

 cording- to Wilson, " have considerable resemblance 

 to those of the brown thrash (Turdus rufus), but 

 may easily be distinguished by their greater rapidity, 

 sweetness, energy of expression, and variety." We 

 have already seen also, that he describes the part of 

 the song not alleged to be imitative as " bold, full, 

 and varied, seemingly beyond all limits ;" so that we 

 are at least borne out, by several strong facts, in our 

 opinion of the whole song being original, and not 

 the result of a confused medley of imitations. 



It is a favourite topic with authors to compare the 

 singing of the American mocking-bird and the Euro- 

 pean nightingale. " It may not be improper/' says 

 Daines Barrington, " to consider whether the nightin- 

 gale may not have a very formidable competitor in 

 the American mocking-bird, though almost all travel- 

 lers agree, that the concert in the European woods 

 is superior to that of the other parts of the globe.'* 

 He adds, from his own observation, that its " pipe 

 comes the nearest to our nightingale of any bird I 

 have yet met with f." 



Wilson, never having heard the nightingale, could 

 not of course make the requisite comparison ; 

 but after quoting Harrington's sentiments, he ex- 

 claims, " What must we think of that bird, who, in 

 the glare of day, when a multitude of songsters are 

 straining their throats in melody, overpowers all 

 competition ; and, by the superiority of his voice, ex- 

 pression, and action, not only attracts every ear, but 

 frequently strikes dumb his mortified rivals ; * * * * 

 when the silence of night as well as the bustle of 

 day bear witness to his melody ; and when even in 

 captivity, in a foreign country, he is declared by the 

 best judges in that country, to be fully equal to the 

 * J, R, t Phil. Trans, vol. 62, pt. ii. p. 284, 



