242 The Mocking Bird. 



eggs have been touched, but does not readily abandon the spot she 

 has once chosen.* None of the domestic animals, or man himself, 

 but particularly the cat and dog, can approach, during the period 

 of incubation, without receiving an attack from these affectionate 

 guardians of their brood. Their most insidious and deadly ene- 

 mies, however, are reptiles, particularly the black snake, which 

 spares neither the eggs nor young. As soon, as his fatal approach 

 is discovered, by the male, he darts upon him without hesitation, 

 eludes his bites, and striking him about the head, and particularly 

 the eyes, where most vulnerable, he soon succeeds in causing him 

 to retreat, and by redoubling his blows, in spite of all pretended 

 fascination, the wily monster often falls a victim to his temerity; 

 and the heroic bird leaving his enemy dead on the field he pro- 

 voked, mounts on the bush above his affectionate mate and brood, 

 and in token of victory celebrates his loudest song. 



The mocking bird, like the nightingale, is destitute of brilliant 

 plumage, but his form is beautiful, dehcate, and symmetrical in its 

 proportions. His motions are easy, rapid, and graceful, perpetu- 

 ally animated with a playful caprice, and a look that appears full 

 of shrewdness and intelligence. He listens with silent attention to 

 each passing sound, treasures up lessons from anything vocal, and 

 is capable of imitating with exactness, both in measure and accent, 

 the notes of all the feathered creation. And, however wild and 

 discordant the tones and calls may be, he contrives with an Or- 

 phean talent, peculiarly his own, to infuse into them that sweetness 

 of expression, and harmonious modulation which characterizes this 

 inimitable and wonderful composer. With the dawn of morning, 

 while yet the sun lingers below the blushing horizon, our sublime 

 songster, in his native w'ilds, mounted on the topmost branch of a 

 tall bush or tree in the forest, pours out his admirable song, which, 

 amidst the multitude of notes from all the warbling host, still rises 

 pre-eminent, so that his solo is heard alone, and all the rest of the 

 musical choir appear employed in mere accompaniments to this 

 grand actor in the sublime opera of nature. Nor is his talent 

 confined to imitation; his native notes are also bold, full, and per- 

 petually varied, consisting of short expressions of a few variable 

 syllables, interspersed with imitations, and uttered with great 

 emphasis and volubility, sometimes for half an hour at a time, with 

 undiminished ardor. These native strains bear a considerable re- 

 semblance to those of the brown thrush, with which he is so nearly 

 related in form, habits, and manners; but, like rude from cultiva- 

 ted genius, his notes are distinguished by the rapidity of their de- 



'Audueok's Orn, Biog. vol. i. p. 111. 



