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62 THE MOCKING BIRD. 



into the close thicket, at the well-feigned scream of the 

 hawk. 



Soon reconciled to the usurping fancy of man, the mocking 

 bird often becomes familiar with his master ; playfully attacks 

 him through the bars of his cage, or at large in a room ; rest- 

 less and capricious, he seems to try every expedient of a lively 

 imagination, that may conduce to his amusement. Nothing 

 escapes his discerning and intelligent eye nor faithful ear. He 

 whistles, perhaps, for the dog, who, deceived, runs to meet his 

 master; the cries of the chicken in distress bring out the 

 clucking mother to the protection of her brood. The barking 

 of the dog, the piteous wailing of the puppy, the mewing of the 

 cat, the action of a saw, or the creaking of a wheelbarrow 

 quickly follow with exactness. He repeats a tune of consider- 

 able length ; imitates the warbling of the Canary, the lisping of 

 the indigo bird, and the mellow whistle of the cardinal, in a 

 manner so superior to the originals, that, mortified and 

 astonished, they withdraw from his presence, or listen in 

 silence, as he continues in triumph. 



In the cage, also, nearly as in the woods, he is full of life and 

 action, while engaged in song; throwing himself round with 

 inspiring animation, and, .as it were, moving in time to the 

 melody of his own accents. Even the hours of night, which 

 consign nearly all other birds to silence and rest, like the 

 nightingale, he oft employs in song, serenading the houseless 

 hunter and silent cottager to repose, as the rising moon 

 illumines the darkness of the shadowy scene. His capricious 

 fondness for contrast and perpetual variety appears to dete- 

 riorate his powers. His lofty imitations of the musical brown 

 thrush are perhaps interrupted by the crowing of the cock, or 

 the barking of the dog ; the plaintive warblings of the blue 

 bird are then blended with the wild scream and chatter of the 

 swallow, or the cackling of the hen ; amid the simple lay of 

 the native robin, we are surprised with the vociferations of the 

 whip-poor-will ; while the notes of the garrulous jay, kildeer, 

 woodpecker, Baltimore wren, and many others succeed, with 

 such an appearance of reality, that we imagine ourselves 



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