MOCKING-BIRD. 
21 
Were it not to seem invidious in the eyes of foreigners, I might in 
this place make a comparative statement between the powers of the 
Mocking-bird, and the only bird I believe in the world worthy of being 
compared with him, the European Nightingale. This, however, I am 
unable to do from my own observation, having never myself heard the 
song of the latter ; and even if I had, perhaps something might be laid 
to the score of partiality, which, as a faithful 'biographer, I am anxious 
to avoid. I shall, therefore, present the reader with the opinion of a 
distinguished English naturalist, and curious observer, on this subject, 
the Hon. Daines Barrington, who at the time he made the communica- 
tion was vice president of the Royal Society, to which they were 
addressed.* 
"It may not be improper, here," says this gentleman, "to consider 
whether the Nightingale may not have a very formidable competitor in 
the American Mocking-bird ; though almost all travellers agree, that 
the concert in the European woods is superior to that of the other parts 
of the globe. I have happened, however, to hear the American Mock- 
ing-bird, in great perfection, at Messrs. Vogels and Scotts, in Love-lane, 
Eastcheap. This bird is believed to be still living, and hath been in 
England these six years. During the space of a minute he imitated 
the Wood-lark, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Thrush, and Sparrow ; I was told 
also that he would bark like a dog ; so that the bird seems to have no 
choice in his imitations, though his pipe comes nearest to our Nightin- 
gale of any bird I have yet met with. With regard to the original 
notes, however, of this bird, we are still at a loss, as this can only be 
known by those who are accurately acquainted with the song of the 
other American birds. Kalm indeed informs us, that the natural song 
is excellent ;f but this traveller seems not to have been long enough in 
America to have distinguished what Avcre the genuine notes : with us 
mimics do not often succeed but in imitations. I have little doubt, 
however, but that this bird would be fully equal to the song of the 
Nightingale in its whole compass ; but then from the attention which 
the Mocker pays to any other sort of disagreeable noise, these capital 
notes would be always debased by a bad mixture." 
On this extract I shall make a few remarks. If, as is here conceded, 
the Mocking-bird be fully equal to the song of the Nightingale ; and, 
as I can with confidence add, not only to that but to the song of almost 
every other bird ; besides being capable of exactly imitating various 
other sounds and voices of animals, his vocal powers are unquestionably 
superior to those of the Nightingale, which possesses its own native 
* Phil. Trans, vol. LXir., part n., p. 284. 
f Travels, vol. r., p. 219. 
