COMMON MOCKING-BIRD. 191 



vigorously and with undaunted courage, but to meet the aggressor half way, 

 and force him to abandon his intention. The only Hawk that occasionally 

 surprises it is the Jistur Cooperii, which flies low with great swiftness, and 

 carries the bird off without any apparent stoppage. Should it happen that 

 the ruffian misses his prey, the Mocking-bird in turn becomes the assailant, 

 and pursues the Hawk with great courage, calling in the mean time all the 

 birds of its species to its assistance; and although it cannot overtake the 

 marauder, the alarm created by their cries, which are propagated in succession 

 among all the birds in the vicinity, like the watchwords of sentinels on duty, 

 prevents him from succeeding in his attempts. 



The musical powers of this bird have often been taken notice of by 

 European naturalists, and persons who find pleasure in listening to the song 

 of different birds whilst in confinement or at large. Some of these persons 

 have described the notes of the Nightingale as occasionally fully equal to 

 those of our bird, but to compare her essays to the finished talent of the 

 Mocking-bird, is, in my opinion, quite absurd. 



The Mocking-bird is easily reared by hand from the nest, from which it 

 ought to be removed when eight or ten days old. It becomes so very 

 familiar and affectionate, that it will often follow its owner about the house. 

 I have known one raised from the nest kept by a gentleman at Natchez, that 

 frequently flew out of the house, poured forth its melodies, and returned at 

 sight of its keeper. But notwithstanding all the care and management 

 bestowed upon the improvement of the vocal powers of this bird in 

 confinement, I never heard one in that state produce any thing at all 

 approaching in melody to its own natural song. 



The male bird is easily distinguished in the nest, as soon as the brood is 

 a little fledged, it being larger than the female, and shewing more pure white. 

 It does not shrink so deep in the nest as the female does, at the sight of the 

 hand which is about to lift it. Good singing birds of this species often bring 

 a high price. They are long-lived and very agreeable companions. Their 

 imitative powers are amazing, and they mimic with ease all their brethren 

 of the forests or of the waters, as well as many quadrupeds. I have heard it 

 asserted that they possess the power of imitating the human voice, but have 

 never met with an instance of the display of this alleged faculty. 



Mocking-bird, Turduspolyglottus, Wils. Araer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 14. 



Turdus polyglottus, Bonap. Syn., p. 74. 



Mocking-eird, Turdus polyglottus, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 320. 



Mocking-bird, Turdus polyglottus, And. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 108; vol. v. p. 438. 



Male. 



Upper parts greyish-brown; feathers of the wings and tail greyish-black; 



