'^52 VERTEBRATES. 



While its eggs are hatching it is an exceedingly courageoua 

 bird, attacking without discrimination man, dogs, or any animal 

 who may approach too near the nest. But the black inake is the 

 special object of its vengeance. The snake, which has perhaps 

 just arrived at the vicinity of the nest, and is contemplating a 

 pleasant breakfast on the young or eggs, is violently attacked by 

 the enraged Mocking-bird, who, by repeated blows on the head, 

 generally destroys its enemy, and then mounting upon a bush, 

 pours forth a triumphant song of victory. 



The nest is made generally in a bush or apple-tree, fre- 

 quently close to houses, as the bird is protected by the inhabitants. 

 The Mocking-bird is often kept tame, in which case, so far from 

 its imitative powers showing any decrease, the variety of domestic 

 sounds heard about the house is often very perplexing. 



The Golden Oriole is a very shy bird, frequenting the 

 skirts of woods, especially copses that border on larger woods. In 



the fruit season it leaves the woods 

 for the orchards, and makes no 

 small havoc among the fruit, par- 

 ticularly the figs, grapes, and cher- 

 ries. The nest is made of wood 

 and fine hay ; it is generally placed 

 on the fork of a bouerh. The eggs 



Golden Oriole. j. • , » , 



are five m number, of a purplish 

 white, spotted with reddish marks. The length of the hird is 

 rather more than ten inches. 



The Spotted Flycatcher may be considered as the type 

 of the entire family. It may be constantly seen in gardens and 

 orchards, going through the evolutions that have given it tht 

 names of Flycatcher, Post-bird, Beam-bird, etc. It takes its sta- 

 tion on some elevated spot, such as the overhanging bough of a 

 tree, a post, or a rail, and from thence watches for a passing insect, 

 on seeing which it darts from its post, secures the insect in the 

 air, and returns to the same spot by a short circular flight. It is 

 not a timid bird, and will permit an observer to stand quite close 

 to it, provided that he does not disturb it 



