ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 
mon food) is fresh meat, and particularly the 
hearts of animals. 
I have happened, however, to hear the Ame- 
rican mocking-bird in great perfection at Jess. 
Vogle’s and Scott’s, in Love-Lane, Eastcheap. 
This bird is believed to be still living, and 
hath been in England these six years. During 
_ the space of a minute, he imitated the wood- 
lark, chaffinch, blackbird, thrush, and sparrow. 
I was told also, that he would bark like a dog ; 
so that the bird seems to have no choice in his 
imitations, though his pipe comes nearest to our 
nightingale of any bird I have yet met with. 
With regard to the original notes, however, 
of this bird, we are still at a loss; as this can 
only be known by those who are accurately ac- 
quainted with the song of the other American 
birds. | 
Kalm indeed informs us, that the natural song 
is excellent; * but this traveller seems not to 
have been long enough in America to have dis- 
tinguished what were the genuine notes: with 
us, mimics do not often succeed but in imi- 
tations. 
I have little doubt, however, but that this 
bird would be fully equal to the song of the 
nightingale in its whole compass; but then, 
* Vol. I. p. 219. 
Bie 
