LIFE OF WILSON. CXCV 



recover his very soul, which expired in the last elevated strain. ? 

 While thus exerting himself, a bystander, destitute of sight, 

 would suppose that the whole feathered tribes had assembled 

 together, on a trial of skill, each striving to produce his utmost 

 effect, so perfect are his imitations. He many times deceives 

 the sportsman, and sends him in search of birds that perhaps are 

 not within miles of him; but whose notes he exactly imitates. 

 Even birds themselves are frequently imposed on by this admi- 

 rable mimick, and are decoyed by the fancied calls of their 

 mates; or dive, with precipitation, into the depths of thickets, 

 at the scream of what they suppose to be the Sparrow Hawk. 

 "The Mocking-bird loses little of the power and energy of 

 his song by confinement. In his domesticated state, when he 

 commences his career of song, it is impossible to stand by un- 

 interested. He whistles for the dog: Caesar starts up, wags his 

 tail, and runs to meet his master. He squeaks out like a hurt 

 chicken, and the hen hurries about with hanging wings, and 

 bristled feathers, clucking to protect her injured brood. He runs 

 over the quiverings of the Canary, and the clear whistlings of 

 the Virginia Nightingale or Red-bird, with such superior exe- 

 cution and effect, that the mortified songsters feel their own 

 inferiority, and become altogether silent; while he seems to 

 triumph in their defeat by redoubling his exertions. 



"This excessive fondness for variety, however, in the opi- 

 nion of some, injures his song. His elevated imitations of the 

 Brown Thrush are frequently interrupted by the crowing of 

 cocks; and the warblings of the Blue-bird, which he exquisitely 

 manages, are mingled with the screaming of Swallows, or the 

 cackling of hens; amidst the simple melody of the Robin we 

 are suddenly surprised by the shrill reiterations of the Whip- 

 poorwill, while the notes of the Kildeer, Blue Jay, Martin, Bal- 

 timore, and twenty others, succeed, with such imposing reality, 

 that we look round for the originals, and discover, with aston- 

 ishment, that the sole performer in this singular concert is the 

 admirable bird now before us. During this exhibition of his 

 powers, he spreads his wings, expands his tail, and throws him- 



