MY PET WOOD THRUSHES. 
207 
the edge of an extensive woodland, intersected here and 
there by large old fieldsor commons which had been deserted 
for years. These were the most likely places to find the 
highest specimens of tlie Southern mocking bird. After 
leaving the buggy, we traversed on foot some quarter of a 
mile of foot-path, over an undulating upland, we suddenly 
found ourselves introduced to a small meadow, on the bank 
of a feeble rivulet. 
This had many years ago been a farm, but had for some 
cause been deserted. I saw at once, it was the place for 
mocking birds, and we accordingly sat down beneath the 
shade of a heavy pine to watch the aspects of the scene. 
In a little while, we saw in the meadow below us two mock- 
ing birds flitting to and fro, as if this was their familiar home. 
The male was a splendid specimen, and although I shot at 
it with, as I supposed, my nerves worked up to the last de- 
gree of tension, I never hit it, although within astonishingly 
short distances. At last, as my wife had brought out paper 
and pencils for drawing, and wires for fixing the bird in po- 
sition, I was compelled to shoot one of the pair in spite of 
myself It was fixed upon the wires immediately, and she 
commenced making the drawing beneath the shade of a pine. 
I left her, saying — " I am convinced that these birds have 
a nest in this meadow ; you continue your drawing, while I 
go to look for it." 
I wandered around the meadow, looking into every isolat- 
ed clump or thicket without distinction. Ever}^ secret place 
had been searched, and as the mate came along, I, in a sple- 
netic mood, brought it down also. But then the idea haunted 
me — they have a nest of young in this meadow, and now 
that I have done murder upon their natural protectors, my 
business is to protect the callow children of song. 
There was a small clump of blackberry vines mingled 
with more vigorous shrubs, and more luxuriant foliage, which 
occupied the central place of this old field, and into which I 
had glanced an hundred times in passing. The foliage was 
