405 

 THE MOCKING-BIRD'S SONG, 



Turdus Polyglottus.— (Linn.) 



I now sing with much pleasure, my notes never shocking; 



Know ye not that, before I look round and begin, 

 I'm that musical bird, which some choose to call 



MOCKING, 



And my notes oft respond in melodious din. 



Already you hear me ! I must go on singing : 



You, I know, will excuse me ; I'll try to sing well : 



You all will be pleas'd, I doubt not, with my ringing 

 Of changes,— much better than those on a bell. 



Delightful! permit me my feelings to utter ; 



Not a word of complaint shall you now from me hear : 

 Be my notes low or high, or but merely a mutter ; 



Be they soft, be they loud, or far distant, or near. 



Then welcome, dear mockery! charmer of witlings, 



To whom wit, if not wisdom, hath long time been 



known ; 



Who, to shine like bright stars, not as silly Tomtitlings, 



Sport of others the thoughts much improv'd by their 



own. 



at the tip ; nostrils naked : feet gressorial ; tail short. The fol- 

 lowing are the chief:— 



The Musica, or Tuneful-Man akin, is black, beneath orange; 

 front and rump yellow ; crown and nape blue ; chin, throat, 



