THE MOCKINGBIRD IN ILLINOIS. 



Dwellers in the southern portion of ingly undervalued bird at his old home 

 our great commonwealth and all who in the southland. However, with us, he 

 are so pleasantly situated as to enjoy in- is assured a warm and cordial welcome 

 timate acquaintance with the Mocking- when with each succeeding season he ex- 

 bird, may not understand the eagerness tends his range farther and farther north- 

 with which we accept the musical crumbs ward, founding new homes in latitudes 

 from their bountiful table — the hearti- that knew not his ancestors. Localities 

 ness with which we welcome the annual formerly noting the Mockingbird as a 

 spring gifts to the north, of their surplus rare or occasional visitor, now proudly 

 of Mockingbirds. claim him as a regular summer resident. 

 Throughout the central and northern Our attention was first called to this 

 part of the State, and especially above northern invasion, by discovering a 

 the fortieth parallel of latitude, "Mimus Mockingbird's nest in July, 1897. The 

 polyglottos" is not so numerous that we ensuing year, this single pair of birds 

 may not readily recall each pleasant hour had increased to three pairs, all of which 

 spent in his company — each delightful succeeded in rearing families undis- 

 entertainment we have enjoyed from the turbed. During the season of 1899, six 

 seemingly inexhaustible program of pairs were observed nesting in the im- 

 song. " mediate vicinity, and in 1900 and 1901, 

 He is our king of songsters — the peer eight and eleven pairs respectively were 

 of all our American birds in vocal abili- located within a four-mile radius. A 

 ties, and his wonderful variations are ac- continuation of this material increase for 

 cepted as the gems of over-flowing, in- a few years will result in establishing 

 toxicating bird melody. In consequence this formerly-restricted southern bird as 

 he is a much-talked-of bird when his one of the common summer residents of 

 presence is noted a little north of his the northern states. 



regular habitat. His talents have been We remember as boy observers, when 

 heralded until the mere mention of his the presence of the Mockingbird was re- 

 name is sufficient to arouse keen inter- garded as an accidental occurrence, to 

 est, while the advent of a single pair will have had no greater desire than an op- 

 afford a pleasing topic of conversation ' portunity of hearing its song and our 

 for many days. highest ambition was to look upon the 

 It gives him an added charm for us, nest and eggs of this far-famed bird, 

 while listening to this prince of mimics, Upon a farmer's announcement of the 

 to experience that twinge of uncertainty arrival of a "genuine southern Mocking- 

 ever present in the thought and hope of bird" at his home, our boyish hearts 

 meeting him again on the morrow. would leap with enthusiasm. Incident- 

 There is an old natural law, inexpli- ally, this declaration always necessitated 

 cably but undeniably true — teaching us a trip to the country, but as often re- 

 that "a prophet is not without honor ex- suited in a disappointment. Upon in- 

 cept in his own country." So also are spection our Mockingbird invariably per- 

 the most enthusiastic praises of this bird, sisted in being a common brown thrasher, 

 sung bv other than the dweller in the which bird might with grace and honor 

 land of sunshine, orange-groves and wear the title were it not for his in- 

 Mockingbirds. imitable cousin. 



Perhaps it is because of his numbers In localities where "Polvglottos" ^ is 



(we should certainly be unwilling to as- little known, he is often confounded with 



sign another reason), that he is a seem- the thrasher, but there should be no dif- 



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