36G DIVISION I. VEUTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS 11. AVES. 



boring brake; but, on the assurance that it was nutliing more or less than a 

 coniniun blackbird, I detcrniiued to ascertain the fact witli my own eyes and 

 ears ; and this day I had the gratification of getting close to it, seated on the 

 top bough of an ash tree, and [lursuing with imceasing zeal its unusual note. 

 The resemblance to the crow of the domestic cock is so perfect, that more 

 than one in the distance were answering it. It occasionally indul'ied in its 

 usual song, but only for a second or two, resuming its more favorite note ; 

 and once or twice it commenced with crowing, and broke off in the middle 

 into its natural whistle. In what way this bird has acquired its present pro- 

 pensity I am unable to say, except that, as its usual haunt is near a mill 

 where poultry are kept, it may have learned the note from the common 

 fowl." 



Of the Mocking Thrushes, our American blocking Bird {]\Iimus poli/iilot- 

 tn.'<) is the most celebrated, and that most justly, for his song is unrivalled. 

 Attired in a suit of dark ash-colorcd coat above, and ligiiter gray waiscoat 

 beneath, ho puts to shame, by the wonderful power and variety of his notes, 

 all his more gaudily arrayed neighbors of the wood. 



The following exceedingly interesting account of this species is by Alex- 

 ander Wilson : — 



" The precise time at which the mocking bird begins to build his nest 

 varies according to the latitude in which he resides. In the lower parts of 

 Georgia he commences building early in April, Ijiit in Pennsylvania rarely 

 before the lOth of May ; and in xv'ew York, and tiie States of iS'ew England, 

 still later. There are particular situ.-itions ti> which he gives the preference. 

 A solitary thorn bush, an almost impenetrable thicket, an orange tree, cedar 

 or holly bush, are favorite spots, and fi'cquently selected. It is no great 

 objection with him that these hapjien, sometimes, to be near the farm or 

 mansion-house. Always ready to defend, but never over-anxious to conceal 

 his nest, he very often builds within a small distance of the house, and not 

 unfrequcntly in a pear or apple tree ; rarely at a greater height than six or 

 seven feet from the ground. The nest varies a little in different individuals, 

 according to the conveniency of collecting suitable materials. A very com- 

 j)lete one is now lying l)efore me, and is composed of the following sub- 

 stances : first, a quantity (jf dry twigs and sticks ; then, withered tops of 

 weeds of the preceding year, intermixed with fine straws, hay, pieces of 

 wool and tow; and lastly, a thick lavcr <.if fine fibrous roots, of a light- 

 brown color, lines the whole. The eggs are four, sometimes five, of a cine- 

 reous-blue, marked witli large blotches of brown. The female sits fourteen 

 days, and generally produces two broods in tlie season, unless robbed of her 

 eggs, in which case she will even build and lay the third time. She is, 

 however, extremely jealous of her nest, and very apt to forsake it if much 



