Wibctc tbc /lDocRfng«I)ir& Sings 



the songster's position just where the cabin 

 was to which the girls were going; for 

 these resident mocking-birds hang about 

 the gardens and fig-clumps of the negroes 

 and Creole peasants. They are different 

 from their more enterprising relatives, I 

 have lately discovered, in disposition and 

 singing power, having lost through semi- 

 domestication a certain indescribable sweet 

 sauvagerie of manner and voice, the last re- 

 finement of the mocking-bird quality in the 

 migrant which comes up from the far South 

 on the first strong flood of spring weather. 

 It is notable that the resident mock- 

 ing-birds of the Creole coast seem to 

 prefer the vicinity of a cabin for their nest- 

 ing-places, and they rarely build near a 

 mansion. The negroes and French peasants 

 usually have a clump of orange-trees, a 

 few gnarled fig-trees, and a rude bower of 

 scuppernong grape-vines, in the midst of 

 which a tiny cot of boards or logs is 

 almost hidden. Here our incomparable 

 songster has found his lotus-land, away 

 from which he will not wander more. He 

 has lost, under the eaves of these lowly 

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