374 FOREIGN BIRDS. 



The Great-Crown'd-Indian-Pigeon came cooing 



aloud, 

 Of whom might the Papuan regions be proud. 



the pretended fascination of these last being ineffectual, this 

 bird frequently destroying the noxious reptile. 



The mocking-bird forms a striking exception to what is 

 generally esteemed the character of the birds of the new world, 

 where the rich, lively, and brilliant hues of the feathered race 

 are very often accompanied with harsh, monotonous, and disa- 

 greeable notes, but the mocking-bird is the most melodious of 

 all birds, the nightingale not excepted. Besides the charms of 

 its natural song, it has the power of imitating or counterfeiting 

 the notes of every bird of the woods ; and, it is said, too, that 

 the songs which it repeats it improves. With all these qualifi- 

 cations it is of very ordinary appearance compared with other 

 birds in the American woods. It is, however, fond of the vi- 

 cinity of man, and easily domesticated ; it perches upon trees 

 near the planter's houses ; and sometimes upon the chimney tops, 

 where it remains all night, pouring forth the sweetest and most 

 varied notes. From all that can be gathered concerning the 

 song of this bird, it appears that during the day its chief notes 

 consist of the imitations of the songs of its neighbours ; at night 

 its song is more peculiarly its own. It is in accordance with 

 this impression that two songs of the mocking-bird are given in 

 the text. See forwards. 



It ought, however, to be mentioned, that different accounts 

 are given of this bird's song. Mr. Southey, in his Madoc, has 

 thus alluded to the Mocking-bird : 



" Or gladlier now 



Hearkening that chearful one, who kuoweth all 



The songs of all the winged choristers 



And in one sequence of melodious sounds 



Pours all their music." 



Madoc, vol. ii. page 48. 



