THE MOCKING-BIRD. 
79 
Often, when the mocking-bird is watching 
by the nest, while his mate is sitting, there 
will be a rustling among the leaves at the 
foot of the tree. Then two bright eyes will 
glisten through the foliage ; and presently a 
shining body will begin to wreathe itself 
round and round the trunk, and slowly to 
ascend. It is the black snake, who has 
scented the eggs of the mocking-bird, and is 
determined to make a feast of them. 
The mocking-bird gets into a terrible 
passion at the sight of his enemy. He darts 
upon him with the rapidity of an arrow ; and 
keeping out of the reach of his fangs, strikes 
him violently on the head, the part where he 
is most easily hurt. The snake, finding he 
has met his match, draws back a little ; and 
the mocking-bird redoubles his blows. The 
snake seems to think he had better get out of 
the scrape as quickly as he can, and descend- 
ing to the ground, tries to glide away, and hide 
himself among the bushes. But the intrepid 
bird follows him ; and continues the battle 
with great animation. The snake gets de- 
cidedly the worst of it, and his powers of 
fascination avail him nothing. The mock- 
