22 



MOCKING-BIRD 



what is to follow. In short, if we believe in the truth of that ma- 

 thematical axiom, that the whole is greater than a part, all that is 

 excellent or delightful, amusing or striking, in the music of birds, 

 must belong to that admirable songster, whose vocal powers are 

 equal to the whole compass of their whole strains. 



The native notes of the Mocking-bird have considerable re- 

 semblance to those of the Brown Thrush, but may easily be dis- 

 tinguished by their greater rapidity, sweetness, energy of expres- 

 sion and variety. Both, how wer, have in many parts of the United 

 States, particularly in those to the south, obtained the name of 

 Mocking-bird. The first, or Brown Thrush, from its inferiority 

 of song being called the French, and the other the English Mock- 

 ing-bird. A mode of expression probably originating in the pre- 

 judices of our forefathers ; with whom every thing French was in- 

 ferior to every thing English.^ 



The Mocking-bird is frequently taken in trap-cages, and by 

 proper management may be made sufficiently tame to sing. The 

 upper parts of the cage (which ought to be of wood) should be kept 

 covered, until the bird becomes a little more reconciled to confine- 

 ment. If placed in a wire cage, uncovered, he will soon destroy 

 himself in attempting to get out. These birds, however, by pro- 

 per treatment may be brought to sing perhaps superior to those 

 raised by hand, and cost less trouble. The opinion which the na- 

 turalists of Europe entertain of the great difficulty of raising the 

 Mocking-bird, and^ that not one in ten survives, is very incorrect. 

 A person called on me a few days ago, with twenty-nine of these 

 birds^ old and young, which he had carried about the fields with 

 him for several days, for the convenience of feeding them while en- 

 gaged in trapping others. He had carried them thirty miles, and 

 intended carrying them ninety-six miles farther, viz, to New York ; 



* The observations of Mr. Barrington, in the paper above referred to, make this sup- 

 position still more probable. " Some nightingales," says he, " are so vastly inferior, that the 

 " bird-catchers will not keep them, branding them with the name of Frenchmen," p. 283. 



