1892.] Why the Mocking Birds Left New Jersey. 637 
During a residence of many years at Keyport, N. J., which 
is not more than two miles from the bluff, I had cherished a 
little grove of native saplings. They were all seedlings and 
self-planted. There were scrub oaks, pines, persimmons and a 
group of bilsteds, or gum trees. 
The last attained a considerable height, and all together 
made a dense covert, in which I took great delight. My pleas- 
ure was enhanced by its being a resort for robins, catbirds and 
some smaller birds. I had thus some good bird music, espec- 
ially mornings and evenings. It was a summer eve in 1882 
when a Mimus polyglottus took possession of my cherished 
grove and opened with a budget of bird musie which aston- 
ished me. His répertoire was so voluminous and of such 
variety ; indeed, it was a mélange of bird song. The voice 
was ringing and clear with a quality which I can only call 
golden. The performance was certainly snatchy, but so 
rollicking, rapid and impromptu like. The strange thing 
appeared to me a phenomenon—an avian improvisatoire gone 
stark mad. Such a bubbling stream of ornithic song—such 
reckless impetuosity, such phonic exuberance, such imperious 
audacity of utterance—this defiant monopolist of bird music 
held me enthralled. It was the first time I had ever heard a 
wild mocker in the woods. The wonderful creature regaled 
me in the same grove for six consecutive evenings, then was 
heard no more. The impression was made on me that my 
robins and catbirds were also profoundly affected, for on each 
evening when this grand mestro sang they observed that 
respectful silence which is the homage due to superiority. 
This incident set me upon inquiry. I found an old man 
who was born in the last century—a native who had spent 
his entire life near the bluffs already mentioned. In the par- 
lance of the day “ we interviewed ” him; hence the dialogue 
as nearly as can be must be reported. 
“ How long have you lived in these parts?” 
“ All my life. Leastwise was never away long at a time.” 
“Did you ever know of any mocking birds about here?” 
“ Not of late years, but plenty of ’em when I was a lad. 
