ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 371 



mon food) is fresh meat, and particularly the 

 hearts of animals. 



I have happened, however, to hear the Ame- 

 rican mocking-bird in great perfection at Mess. 

 Vogles and Scott's, in Love- Lane, East cheap. 



This bird is believed to be still living, and 

 hath been in England these six years. During 

 the space of a minute, he imitated the wood- 

 lark, chaffinch, blackbird, thrush, and sparrow. 

 I was told also, that he would bark like a dog ; 

 so that the bird seems to have no choice in his 

 imitations, though his pipe comes nearest to our 

 nightingale of any bird I have yet met with. 



With regard to the oricfinal notes, however, 

 of this bird, we are still at a loss ; as this can 

 only be known by those who are accurately ac- 

 quainted with the song of the other American 

 birds. 



Kalm indeed informs us, that the natural song 

 is excellent;* but this traveller seems not to 

 have been long enough in America to have dis- 

 tinguished what were the genuine notes : with 

 us, mimics do not often succeed but in imi- 

 tations. 



I have little doubt, however, but that this 

 bird would be fully equal to the song of the 

 nightingale in its whole compass; but then. 



* Vol. I. p. 219. 



O p. o 



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