32 THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 



The mocking-bird undoubtedly possesses the great- 

 est range of mere talent, the most varied executive 

 ability, and never fails to surprise and delight one 

 anew at each hearing ; but being mostly an imitator, 

 he never approaches the serene beauty and sublimity 

 of the hermit-thrush. The word that best expresses 

 my feelings, on hearing the mocking-bird, is admira- 

 tion, though the first emotion is one of surprise and 

 incredulity. That so many and such various notes 

 should proceed from one throat is a marvel, and we 

 regard the performance with feelings akin to those 

 we experience on witnessing the astounding feats of 

 the athlete or gymnast, and this, notwithstanding 

 many of the notes imitated have all the freshness 

 and sweetness of the originals. The emotions excited 

 by the songs of these thrushes belong to a higher 

 order, springing as they do from our deepest sense of 

 the beauty and harmony of the world. 



The wood-thrush is worthy of all, and more than 

 all, the praises he has received ; and considering the 

 number of his appreciative listeners, it is not a little 

 surprising that his relative and equal, the hermit- 

 thrush, should have received so little notice. Both 

 the great ornithologists, Wilson and Audubon, are 

 lavish in their praises of the former, but have little or 

 nothing to say of the song of the latter. Audubou 

 says it is sometimes agreeable, but evidently has never 

 heard it. Nuttall, I am glad to find, is more discrim 

 mating, and does the bird fuller justice. 



I ifl quite u rare bird, of very shy and secluded 



