t 286 ] 
known by thofe who are accurately acquainted with 
the fong of the other American birds. 
Kalm indeed informs us, that the natural fong is 
excellent*; but this traveller feems not to have been 
long enough in America to have diftinguifhed what 
were the genuine notes: with us, mimics do not 
often fucceed but in imitations. 
I have little doubt, however, but that this bird 
would be fully equal to the fong of the Nightingale 
in its whole compafs; but then, from the attention 
which the mocker pays to any other fort of difagree- 
able noifes, thefe capital notes would be always de- 
bafed by a bad mixture. 
We have one mocking bird in England, which 
is the fkylark ; as, contrary to a general obfervation 
I have before made, this bird will catch the note of 
any other which hangs near it ; even after the fky- 
lark note is Jhtcd. For this reafon, the bird-fanciers 
often place the fkylark next one which hath not 
been long caught, in order, as they term it, to keep 
the caged fkylark honeft. 
The queftion, indeed, may be afked, why the 
wild fkylark, with thefe powers of imitation, ever 
adheres to the parental note ; but it muff be recoU 
ledled, that a bird when at liberty is for everfhifting 
its place, and confequently does not bear the fame 
notes eternally repeated, as when it hangs in a cage 
near another. In a wild (late therefore the fkylark 
adheres to the parental notes ; as the parent cock at- 
tends the young ones, and is heard by them for fo 
confiderable a time. 
*' Vol.-I. p.219. 
I am 
