1814 Birds. 



of the nectary of the flower. The bird flew to it in a moment, clung to the bottle rim, 

 and bringing his beak perpendicular, thrust it into the tube. It was at once evident 

 that the repast was agreeable, for he continued pumping for several seconds, and on 

 his flying off I found the quill emptied. As he had torn off the flower in his eager- 

 ness for more, and even followed the fragments of the corolla, as they lay on the table, 

 to search them, I refilled the quill and put a blossom of the Marvel of Peru into it, so 

 that the flower expanded over the top. The little toper found it again, and after 

 drinking freely, withdrew his beak, but the blossom was adhering to it as a sheath. 

 This incumbrance he presently got rid of, and then (which was most interesting to me) 

 he returned immediately, aud inserting his beak into the bare quill, finished the con- 

 tents. It was amusing to see the odd position of his head and body as he clung to 

 the bottle with his beak inserted perpendicularly into the cork. Several times in the 

 course of the evening he had recourse to his new fountain, which was as often replen- 

 ished for him, and at length, about sunset, betook himself to a line stretched across 

 the room for repose. He slept as they all do, with the head not behind the wing, but 

 slightly drawn back upon the shoulders, and in figure reminded me of Mr. Gould's 

 beautiful plate of Trogon resplendens, in miniature. In the morning I found him 

 active before sunrise, already having visited his quill of syrup, which he emptied a 

 a second time. After some hours, he flew through a door which I had incautiously 

 left open, and, darting through the window of the next room, escaped, to my no small 

 chagrin." — p. 113. 



The Mocking Bird (Mimus poh/glottus). — " It is in the stillness of the night, when, 

 like his European namesake [the nightingale], he delights — 



* With wakeful melody to cheer 

 The livelong hours,' 



that the song of this bird is heard to advantage. Sometimes, when, desirous of 

 watching the first flight of Urania Sloaneus, I have ascended the mountains before 

 break of day, I have been charmed with the rich gushes and bursts of melody proceed- 

 ing from this most sweet songster, as he stood on tiptoe on the topmost twig of some 

 sour-sop or orange tree, in the rays of the bright moonlight. Now he is answered by 

 another, and now another joins the chorus from the trees around, till the woods and 

 savannahs are ringing with the delightful sounds of exquisite and innocent joy. Nor 

 is the season of song confined, as in many birds, to that period when courtship and in- 

 cubation call forth the affections and sympathies of the sexes towards each other. The 

 mocking-bird is vocal at all seasons ; and it is probably owing to his permanency of 

 song, as well as to his incomparable variety, that the savannahs and lowland groves of 

 Jamaica are almost always alive with melody, though our singing birds are so few." 

 —p. 145. 



****** 



When young are in possession, their presence is no secret ; for an unpleasant 

 sound, half hissing, half whistling, is all day long issuing from their unfledged throats: 

 delightful efforts, I dare say, to the fond parents. At this time the old birds are' 

 watchful and courageous. If an intruding boy or naturalist approaches their family, 

 they hop from twig to twig, looking on with outstretched neck, in mute but evident 

 solicitude; but any winged visitant, though ever so unconscious of evil intent, and 

 though ever so large, is driven away with fearless pertinacity. The saucy Ani and 



