72 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



my only annoyance for the old gentleman kept insinuating 

 as we walked on towards my father's, that these were 

 " mighty strange sort of mocking birds," until my insulted 

 dignity as a naturalist and discoverer, fairly blazed out in 

 wrath, as I remarked in a most emphatic manner, 



"Mr. B. I repeat to you sir, that this is a new variety 

 of mocking birds ! When you have spent as many nights as 

 I have sir, in ascertaining the fact when you have heard 

 the male parent sing as many hours as I have, while you 

 were sound asleep, then you too will be convinced that I 

 have not only discovered a new variety, but that I have now 

 in my possession a nest of the finest singers in the world." 



This long speech, with all its emphasis, did not seem to 

 entirely convince the old man, who could not get over the 

 way they bit, and that black spot under the eye ; but, I saw 

 it staggered him some, and when, as we were parting, he 

 rather hinted that he should like to have a male bird, if they 

 turned out as I expected, I turned upon him quite a com- 

 passionate look as I promised smilingly, " of course in case 

 they turn out to be mocking birds, Mr. B. you shall have 

 one of the males if I have two." 



This was my grand triumph, and I was proud as Lucifer 

 when I exhibited my captives to the family ; and great were 

 the rejoicings of my sister over my brilliant success. But the 

 triumph was incomplete, while one of the precious family 

 remained behind, and soon I was on my return, accompanied 

 by a strong negro man to dig the runaway out of the rocks. 

 It was a work of several hours, and during its progress I ob- 

 served something curious on one of the thorn bushes near 

 that had died the year before ; though the thorns were stiff 

 and tough as ever. This phenomenon consisted of the bodies 

 of some dozen of the common gray or fence lizard, which 

 had been impaled carefully upon the topmost thorns. They 

 seemed to be in all stages of demolishment and decay, from 

 the entire reptile that was bleeding and scarcely cold, to the 

 mere blackened fragment that had been eaten away close up 



