190 COMMON MOCKING-BIRD. 



repeatedly forced from the dear spot, and has been much alarmed by frequent 

 intrusions, that she finally and reluctantly leaves it. Nay, if the eggs are on 

 the eve of being hatched, she will almost suffer a person to lay hold of her. 



Different species of snakes ascend to their nests, and generally suck the 

 eggs or swallow the young; but on all such occasions, not only the pair to 

 which the nest belongs, but many other Mocking-birds from the vicinity, fly 

 to the spot, attack the reptiles, and, in some cases, are so fortunate as either 

 to force them to retreat, or deprive them of life. Cats that have abandoned 

 the houses to prowl about the fields, in a half wild state, are also dangerous 

 enemies, as they frequently approach the nest unnoticed, and at a pounce 

 secure the mother, or at least destroy the eggs or young, and overturn the 

 nest. Children seldom destroy the nests of these birds, and the planters 

 generally protect them. So much does this feeling prevail throughout 

 Louisiana, that they will not willingly permit a Mocking-bird to be shot at 

 any time. 



In winter, nearly all the Mocking-birds approach the farm-houses and 

 plantations, living about the gardens or outhouses. They are then frequently 

 seen on the roofs, and perched on the chimney-tops; yet they always appear 

 full of animation. Whilst searching for food on the ground, their motions 

 are light and elegant, and they frequently open their wings as butterflies do 

 when basking in the sun, moving a step or two, and again throwing out their 

 wings. When the weather is mild, the old males are heard singing with as 

 much spirit as during the spring or summer, while the younger birds are 

 busily engaged in practising, preparatory to the love season. They seldom 

 resort to the interior of the forest either during the day or by night, but 

 usually roost among the foliage of evergreens, in the immediate vicinity of 

 houses in Louisiana, although in the Eastern States they prefer low fir trees. 



The flight of the Mocking-bird is performed by short jerks of the body 

 and wings, at every one of which a strong twitching motion of the tail is 

 perceived. This motion is still more apparent while the bird is walking, 

 when it opens its tail like a fan and instantly closes it again. The common 

 cry or call of this bird is a very mournful note, resembling that uttered on 

 similar occasions by its first cousin the Orpheus rufus, or, as it is commonly 

 called, the "French Mocking-bird." When travelling, this flight is only a 

 little prolonged, as the bird goes from tree to tree, or at most across a field, 

 scarcely, if ever, rising higher than the top of the forest. During this 

 migration, it generally resorts to the highest parts of the woods near water- 

 courses, utters its usual mournful note, and roosts in these places. It travels 

 mostly by day. 



Few Hawks attack the Mocking-birds, as on their approach, however 

 sudden it may be, they are always ready not only to defend themselves 



