14^ A HISTORY OF 



lions that endear it to mankind much more. It is but a plain bird to 

 the eye, about the size of a thrush, of a white and grey colour, and 

 a reddish bill. It is possessed not only of its own natural notes, which 

 are musical and solemn, but it can assume the tone of every other 

 animal in the wood, from the wolf to the raven. It seems even to 

 sport itself in leading them astray. It will at one time allure the 

 lesser birds with the call of their males, and then terrify them when 

 they have come near, with the screams of the eagle. There is no 

 bird in the forest but it can mimic, and there is none that it has not 

 at times deceived by its call. But not like such as we usually see 

 tamed for mimicking with us, and who have no particular merit of 

 their own, the mock-bird is ever surest to please when it is most it- 

 self. At those times it usually frequents the houses of American 

 planters, and sitting all night on the chimney-top, pours forth tho 

 sweetest and the most various notes of any bird whatever. It would 

 seem, if accounts be true, that the deficiency of most other song-birds 

 in that country, is made up by this bird alone. They often build 

 their nests in the fruit-trees about houses, feed upon berries and other 

 fruts, and are easily rendered domestic. 



CHAPTER III. 



OP THE NIGHTINGALE AND OTHER SOFT-BILLED SONG-BIRDS 



THE Nightingale is not only famous among the moderns for its 

 singing, but almost every one of the ancients, who undertook to de- 

 scribe beautiful Nature, has contributed to raise its reputation. " The 

 nightingale," says Pliny, " that, for fifteen days and nights, hid in the 

 thicket shades, continues her note without intermission, deserves our 

 attention and wonder. How surprising that so great a voice can re- 

 side in so small a body! such perseverance in so minute an animal ! 

 With what a musical propriety are the sounds it produces modulated ! 

 The note at one time drawn out with a long breath, now stealing off 

 into a different cadence, now interrupted by a break, then changing 

 into a new note by an unexpected transition, now seeming to renew 

 the same strain, then deceiving expectation! She sometimes seems to 

 murmur within herself; full, deep, sharp, swift, drawling, trembling; 

 now at the top, the middle, and the bottom of the scale! In short, in 

 that little bill seems to reside all the melody which man has vainly 

 laboured to bring from a variety of musical instruments. Some even 

 seem to be possessed of a different song from the rest, and contend 

 with each other with great ardour. The bird overcome is then seen 

 only to discontinue its song with its life." 



This most famous of the feathered tribe visits England in the be- 

 ginning of Aprii, and leaves us in August. It is found but in some 

 of the southern parts of the country, being totally unknown in Scot 



