262 NATURAL HISTORY. 



with such marvellous rapidity that few can believe that the 

 insignificant brown bird before them is the sole author of 

 these varied sounds. The Virginian nightingale and the 

 canary hear their exquisite modulations performed with such 

 superior execution, that the vanquished songsters are silent 

 from mere mortification, while the triumphant Mocking-bird 

 only redoubles his efforts. Wilson, whose animated description 

 of this bird has never been surpassed, says : " His expanded 

 wings and tail glistening with white, and the buoyant gaiety 

 of his action arresting the eye, as his song does most irre- 

 sistibly the ear, he sweeps round with enthusiastic ecstasy, 

 and mounts and descends as his song swells or dies away. 

 He often deceives the sportsman, and sends him in search of 

 birds that are not perhaps within miles of him, but whose 

 notes he exactly imitates : even birds themselves are frequently 

 imposed upon by this admirable mimic, and are decoyed by 

 the fancied calls of their mates, or dive with precipitation into 

 the depth of thickets at the scream of what they suppose to 

 be the sparrow-hawk." 



While its eggs are hatching it is an exceedingly courageous 

 bird, attacking without discrimination man, dogs, or any animal 

 who may approach too near the nest. But the black snake 

 is the special object of its vengeance. The snake, who has 

 perhaps just arrived at the vicinity of the nest, and is con- 

 templating a pleasant breakfast on the young or eggs, is 

 violently attacked by the enraged Mocking-bird, who, by 

 repeated blows on the head, generally destroys its enemy, and 

 then mounting upon a bush, pours forth a triumphant song 

 of victory. 



The nest is made generally in a bush or apple-tree, frequent- 

 ly close to houses, as the bird is protected by the inhabitants. 

 The Mocking-bird is often kept tame, in which case, so far 

 from its imitative powers showing any decrease, the variety 

 of domestic sounds heard about the house, is often very 

 perplexing. 



