188 COMMON MOCKING-BIRD. 



world that possesses all the musical qualifications of this king of song, who 

 has derived all from Nature's self. Yes, reader, all! 



No sooner has he again alighted, and the conjugal contract has been sealed, 

 than, as if his breast was about to be rent with delight, he again pours forth 

 his notes with more softness and richness than before. He now soars higher, 

 glancing around with a vigilant eye, to assure himself that none has witnessed 

 his bliss. When these love-scenes, visible only to the ardent lover of nature, 

 are over, he dances through the air, full of animation and delight, and, as if 

 to convince his lovely mate that to enrich her hopes he has much more love 

 in store, he that moment begins anew, and imitates all the notes which nature 

 has imparted to the other songsters of the grove. 



For awhile, each long day and pleasant night are thus spent; but at a 

 peculiar note of the female he ceases his song, and attends to her wishes. A 

 nest is to be prepared, and the choice of a place in which to lay it is to 

 become a matter of mutual consideration. The orange, the fig, the pear- 

 tree of the gardens are inspected; the thick briar patches are also visited. 

 They appear all so well suited for the purpose in view, and so well does the 

 bird know that man is not his most dangerous enemy, that instead of retiring 

 from him, they at length fix their abode in his vicinity, perhaps in the 

 nearest tree to his window. Dried twigs, leaves, grasses, cotton, flax, and 

 other substances, are picked up, carried to a forked branch, and there 

 arranged. Five eggs are deposited in due time, when the male having little 

 more to do than to sing his mate to repose, attunes his pipe anew. Every 

 now and then he spies an insect on the ground, the taste of which he is sure 

 will please his beloved one. He drops upon it, takes it in his bill, beats it 

 against the earth, and flies to the nest to feed and receive the warm thanks 

 of his devoted female. 



When a fortnight has elapsed, the young brood demand all their care and 

 attention. No cat, no vile snake, no dreaded Hawk, is likely to visit their 

 habitation. Indeed the inmates of the next house have by this time become 

 quite attached to the lovely pair of Mocking-birds, and take pleasure in 

 contributing to their safety. The dew-berries from the fields, and many 

 kinds of fruit from the gardens, mixed with insects, supply the young as 

 well as the parents with food. The brood is soon seen emerging from the 

 nest, and in another fortnight, being now able to fly with vigour, and to 

 provide for themselves, they leave the parent birds, as many other species do. 



The above account does not contain all that I wish you to know of the 

 habits of this remarkable songster; so, I shall shift the scene to the woods 

 and wilds, where we shall examine it more particularly. 



The Mocking-bird remains in Louisiana the whole year. I have observed 

 with astonishment, that towards the end of October, when those which had 



