AVES—MOCKING-BIRD. 497 
them with a perpetual feast. Winged insects, also, which abound there 
even in winter, form a favorite part of their food. 
The mocking-bird builds his nest in different places, according to the lati- 
tude in which he resides. A solitary thorn bush; an almost impenetrable 
thicket; an orange tree, cedar, or holly bush, are favorite spots. Always 
ready to defend, but never over anxious to conceal his nest, he very often 
builds within a small distance of a house; and not unfrequently in a pear 
or apple tree, rarely higher than six or seven feet from the ground. The 
nest is composed of dry twigs, weeds, straw, wool, and tow, ingeniously pi 
together, and lined with fine fibrousroots. During the time when the female 
is sitting, neither cat, dog, animal, or man, can approach the nest without 
being attacked. But the whole vengeance of the bird is directed against his 
morta! enemy, the black snake. Whenever this reptile is discovered, the 
male darts upon it with the rapidity of an arrow, dexterously eluding its 
Lite, and striking it violently and incessantly against the head, where it 13 
very vulnerable. The snake soon becomes sensible of his danger, and seeks 
to escape; but the intrepid bird redoubles his exertions, and as the snake’s 
strength begins to flag, he seizes and lifts it up from the ground, beating it 
with his wings, and when the business is completed, he returns to his nest, 
mounts the summit of the bush, and pours out a torrent of song in token of 
victory. 
The plumage of the mocking-bird has nothing gaudy or brilliant in it: 
but that which so strongly recommends him is his full, strong, and musical 
63 42* 
