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MOCKINGBIRD. 43 
birds, the Nonpareils and others join in the chorus of jubilation to greet the day-star 
as he rises above the horizon. Very rarely a Mockingbird is heard during the hot 
hours of noon; the greater number are silent, and only towards the later afternoon 
does the full chorus commence again. Many sing till after dusk and far into the night. 
I have often listened full of rapture to these songs on the beautiful May evenings when 
the soft refreshing breezes blew from the Gulf, when the bright light of the moon fell 
on the shining evergreen leaves of the magnolia, the cape jasmine, and all the rest of 
the garden and lawn vegetation, when the whole air was filled with the strong odor 
of blooming Marechal Niel and Chromatella roses, the flowers of the China trees, 
gardenias, oleanders, banana-shrubs, fragrant olives, night-jasmines, and a multitude of 
other trees and shrubs. 
Even other birds, especially Tufted Titmice and Cardinal Redbirds, are excited to 
exert their vocal powers to the utmost. The evening and night song of the Mocking- 
bird is indisputably the sweetest. It is almost entirely original as it contains only a 
few strange notes. The day-song is entirely different. It is not so soft, sweet, and 
enchanting’, but louder, more changeful, more eager, and noisier. Usually whole series 
of accurate imitations of a number of birds are heard in succession. Still the song is 
always exceedingly beautiful, differing in different birds. One bird sings with an exquisite 
charm, another with less modulation; in one case the song is wonderfully rich and 
euphonious, in another shriller and poorer in melody, but it always delights and 
fascinates. Old males sing most beautifully, while younger birds are often less accom- 
plished and utter less melodious notes. But these last perfect themselves very rapidly. 
Their power of imitating many other birds, as well as various quadrupeds is, indeed, 
wonderful. The imitations of the Summer Redbird may be suddenly interrupted by the 
crowing of a cock or the barking of a young dog; the warblings of the Bluebird and 
the beautiful song of the Carolina Wren may be mingled with the notes of the Martin, 
the clamoring of the Blue Jay and Crow. Most of the Mockingbirds in and around 
Houston commenced their song with the sweet melancholy lay of the Bluebird; then 
usually followed the liquid notes of the Carolina Wren, the song of the Cardinal Redbird, 
and sometimes the peculiar reiterations of the Chuck-will’s-widow. All of these notes are 
so accurately mimicked, so harmoniously mingled with the bird’s own notes as to form 
one beautiful composition, rarely interrupted by a discord. I was particularly fond of 
the song when it commenced with the Bluebird’s delicate warble and the bell-like notes 
of the Carolina Wren. The rapidly uttered lays of some Finches are not so success- 
fully imitated. I never heard the song of the Painted Bunting, the Indigo Bird, Lark 
Finch, and others, imitated by a Mockingbird. As a rule this “king of song” only 
mimicks those voices which it hears in its immediate neighborhood. I have heard indi- 
viduals sing during the warmer days throughout the winter. The song at this time 
consisted mostly of original notes and was very different from the performances later in 
the year. As soon as the first Bluebird sings, its melody is echoed by the Mockingbird, 
first by one, in a short time by all. Later,-when the Martins return home pouring out 
their joyous notes upon the air, the Mockingbirds at once take them up. As soon as 
the Cardinal, the Phoebe, the Carolina Wren commence singing, their songs and call- 
notes may also be recognized in the Mockingbird’s song. It seems as if the old and 
