mbere tbe /IDocF^ino^btrD Sings 



In the suburbs of Mobile, mocking-birds 

 haunt every garden, grove, and orchard. 

 Even in the shady inclosures around the 

 mansions near the city, I have heard 

 mocking-birds doing their most brilhant 

 work. New Orleans is still more favored 

 than Mobile. Its surburban population, 

 with cottages, cots, and huts buried in 

 trees, vines, and flowering shrubs between 

 the city proper and the cypress swamps, 

 is bird-loving to a degree. 



During recent years the Gulf-coast has 

 attracted the attention of fruit-growers. 

 Pear-trees especially have been extensively 

 planted, and many orchards are now bear- 

 ing fruit. In the early spring, when these 

 trees are in full leaf and bloom, the mock- 

 ing-birds revel in them, swinging on their 

 highest sprays, and blowing their fairy 

 flutes from daybreak till evening dusk. In- 

 deed, when the moon shines you may hear 

 them dreamily piping at all times of the 

 night, and it is an experience never to be 

 forgotten when, as has often happened to 

 me, the camper-out is half wakened from 

 his deep sleep, to catch the tremulous, 

 93 



