334 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



completely, and in all their parts, the song of other 

 birds, the cries of different quadrupeds, the crying of 

 infants, the laughter of a young girl, and in being 

 able to repeat entire airs on the same key in which it 

 has heard them. It does not possess the imitative 

 talent to this degree, even in captivity. The mewing 

 of the cat, however, it takes off so completely as to 

 deceive any ear*." 



There can be little doubt, we think, that if the 

 bird has been over-rated, and its powers exaggerated, 

 by some who have described it, it is as much under- 

 rated in the passage just quoted. The most decisive 

 testimony we have met with upon the point appears 

 to be that of Audubon, who is well acquainted with 

 the notes both of the nightingale and the mocking- 

 bird. " Some," he says, " have described the notes 

 of the nightingale as occasionally fully equal to those 

 of our bird. I have frequently heard both species in 

 confinement, and in the wild state, and, without preju- 

 dice, have no hesitation in pronouncing the notes of 

 the European philomel equal to those of a soubrette 

 of taste, which, could she study under a Mozart, might 

 perhaps, in time, become very interesting in her way ; 

 but to compare her essays to the finished talent of 

 the mocking-bird, is, in my opinion, quite absurd. 

 Good singing birds," he adds, " of this species, 

 often bring a high price ; they are long-lived, and 

 very agreeable companions ; their imitative powers 

 are amazing, and they mimic with ease all their 

 brethren of the forests, or of the waters, as well as 

 many quadrupeds. I have heard it asserted, that 

 they possess the power of imitating the human 

 voice, but have never met with an instance of the 

 display of the alleged faculty t-" 



It is rather a curious circumstance, characterizing, 

 it would appear, the mocking-bird, as well as our 



* Griffith's Cuvier, Anim. Kingd. vi, 540.] 

 f Ornith. Biogr. p. 112. 



