130 



MOCKING BIRD. 



Mocking Bird. (Mimus polyglottus^) 

 Fig- 3- 



Among the great things peculiar to the New World, stands with- 

 out a rival amongst the feathered songsters, the Mocking Bird of 

 America. This very extraordinary species, which is so rich 

 and varied in its vocal powers, inhabits a very considerable extent 

 of both North and South America, having been traced from the 

 states of New England to Brazil. They are, however, much more 

 numerous in those states south, than those north of the river Dela- 

 ware ; being generally migrator}'' in the latter, and resident (at 

 least many of them) in the former. A warm climate, and low 

 country not far from the sea, seems most congenial to their nature ; 

 the species are accordingly found to be less numerous to the west 

 than east of the great range of Alleghany, in the same parallels 

 of latitude. In these regions the berries of the red cedar, myrtle, 

 holly, many species of smilax, together with gum-berries, gall- 

 berries, and a profuse variety of others, abound, and furnish them 

 with a perpetual feast. Winged insects also, of which they are 

 very fond, and very expert in catching, are then plentiful even in 

 the winter season. 



Though the plumage of the Mocking Bird is none of the home- 

 liest, it has nothing gaudy or brilliant in it; and, had he nothing 

 else to recommend him, would scarcely entitle him to notice. But 

 his figure is well proportioned and even handsome. The ease, 

 elegance, and rapidity of his movements, the animation of his eye, 

 and the intelligence he displays in listening and laying up lessons, 

 from almost every species of the feathered creation within his hear- 

 ing, are really surprising, and mark the peculiarity of his genius. 

 To these qualities may be added that of a voice full, strong, and 

 musical, and capable of almost every modulation, from the clear, 

 mellow tones of the Wood Thrush, to the savage scream of the 

 Bald Eagle. In measure and accent he faithfully follows his orig- 

 inals ; in force and sweetness of expression he greatly improves" 

 upon them. In his native groves, mounted on the top of a tall 

 bush or half-grown tree, in the dawn of the morning, while the 

 woods are already vocal with a multitude of warblers, his admir- 

 able song rises pre-eminent over every competitor. The ear can 

 listen to his music alone, to which that of all the others seems a 

 mere accompaniment. Neither is his strain altogether imitative. 

 His own native notes are bold and full, and varied seemingly be- 

 yond all limits. They consist of short expressions of two, three, 

 or, at the most, five or six syllables, generally interspersed with imi- 

 tations, and all of them uttered with great emphasis and rapidity, 

 and continued with undiminished ardor for half an hour or an 

 hour at a time. His expanded wings and tail, glistening with 

 white, and the buoyant gayety of his actions, arresting the eye as 

 his song most irresistibly does the ear, he sweeps round with en- 

 thusiastic ecstacy, and mounts and descends as his song swells or 

 dies away. While thus exerting himself, a bystander, destitute of 

 sight, would suppose that the whole feathered tribes had assembled 

 together on a trial of skill, each striving to produce his utmost ef- 

 fect. 



He often deceives the sportsman, and sends him in search of 

 birds that are not, perhaps, within miles of him, but whose note 

 he exactly imitates. Even birds themselves are frequently im- 

 posed upon by this admirable mimic, and are decoyed by the fan- 

 cied calls of their mates, or dive with precipitation into the depth 

 of thickets at the scream of what they suppose to be the Sparrow- 

 Hawk. 



The Mocking Bird loses little of the power and energy of his 

 song by confinement. In his domesticated state, when he com- 

 mences his career of song, it is impossible to stand by uninter- 

 ested. He whistles for the dog ; Caesar starts up, wags his tail, 

 and runs to meet his master. lie squeaks out like a hurt chicken, 

 and the hen hurries about with hanging wings and bristled feathers, 



chuckling to protect its injured brood. The barking of the dog, 

 the mewing of the cat, the creaking of a passing wheelbarrow, 

 follow with great truth and rapidity. He repeats the tune taught 

 him by his master, though of considerable length, fully and faith- 

 fully ; he runs over the quaverings of the Canary, and the clear 

 whistlings of the Virginia Nightingale, or Cardinal Red-bird, with 

 such superior execution and effect, that the mortified songsters feel 

 their own inferiority, and become altogether silent, while he seems 

 to triumph in their defeat by redoubling his exertions. His ele- 

 vated imitations of the Brown Thrush are frequently interrupted 

 by the crowing of Cocks ; and the warblings of the Blue-bird, 

 which he exquisitely manages, are mingled with the screamino- of 

 Swallows, or the cackling of Hens. Amid the simple melody of 

 the Robin, one is suddenly surprised by the shrill reiterations of 

 the Whip-Poor-Will, while the notes of the Kildeer, Blue Jay, 

 Martin, Baltimore Oriole, and many others succeed, with such in- 

 spiring reality, that the auditors look round for the originals, and 

 with astonishment discover that the sole performer in this singular 

 concert is the admirable bird now before us. During this exhibi- 

 tion of his powers, he spreads his wings, expands his tail, and 

 throws himself around the cage in all ecstacy of enthusiasm, seem- 

 ing not only to sing but to dance, keeping time to the measure of 

 his own music. Both in his native and domesticated state, during 

 the stillness of the night, as soon as the moon rises he begins his de- 

 lightful solo, making the whole neighborhood resound with his in- 

 imitable medley. The Mocking Bird is frequently taken in trap- 

 cages, and, by proper management, may be made sufficiently 

 tame to sing. 



The precise time at which the Mocking Bird begins to build hia 

 nest varies according to the latitude in which he resides, from the 

 beginning of April to the middle of May. There are particular 

 situations to which he gives the preference. A solitary thorn- 

 bush, an almost impenetrable thicket, an orange-tree, cedar, or 

 holly-bush, are favorite spots, and frequently selected. It is no 

 great objection to the bird, that a farm or mansion-house happens 

 to be near. Always ready to defend, but never over-anxious to 

 conceal, his nest, he very often builds within a small distance of 

 the house, and not unfrequently in a pear or apple-tree, rarely at 

 a greater height than six or seven feet from the ground. The nest 

 varies a little, according to the conveniency of collecting suitable 

 materials. Generally, it is composed of — first, a quantity of dry 

 twigs and sticks, then withered tops of weeds of the preceding 

 year, intermixed with fine straw, hay, pieces of wool, and tow; 

 and, lastly, a thick layer of fine, fibrous roots, of a light brown 

 color lines the whole. The female sits fourteen days, and gener- 

 ally produces two broods in the season, unless robbed of her eggs, 

 in which case she will even build and lay the third time. She is, 

 however, very jealous of her nest, and very apt to forsake it, if 

 much disturbed. During the period of incubation, neither cat nor 

 dog, animal nor man, can approach the nest without being at- 

 tacked. The cats, in particular, are persecuted, whenever they 

 make their appearance, till obliged to retreat. But his whole 

 vengeance is more particularly directed against that mortal enemy 

 of his eggs and young, the black snake. Whenever the insidious 

 approaches of this reptile are discovered, the male darts upon it 

 with the rapidity of an arrow, dexterously eluding its bite, and 

 striking it violently and incessantly about the head, where it is 

 very vulnerable. The snake soon becomes sensible of its danger, 

 and seeks to escape ; but the intrepid defender of his young re- 

 doubles his exertions, and, unless his antagonist be of great mag- 

 nitude, often succeeds in destroying him. All his pretended pow- 

 ers of fascination avail it nothing against the vengeance of this 

 noble bird. As the snake's strength begins to flag, the Mocking 

 Bird seizes and lifts it up partly from the ground, beating it with 

 its wings, and when the business is completed, he returns to the 

 nest of his young, mounts the summit of the bush, and pours forth 

 a torrent of song in token of victory. 



The Mocking Bird is nine and a half inches long, and thirteen 



