92 
TURDUS POLYGLOTTUS. 
tuition of tlie feathered choristers of the surroundis? 
fields, groves, woods, and meadows. . 
The plumage of the mocking bird, though none ® 
the homeliest, has nothing gaudy or brilliant in it; lU'®’ 
had he nothing else to recommend him, would scarce'J 
entitle him to notice; hut his figure is well proportion;^’ 
and even handsome. The ease, elegance, and rapid'*^ 
of his movements, the animation of his eye, and tl'* 
intelligence he displays in listening and layiny: up Icsso"' 
from almost every species of the feathered creatin® 
within his hearing, are really suqrrising-, and m<n'_ 
the peculiai'ity of his genius. To these (pialities n', 
may add that of a voice full, strong, and musical, a®® 
capable of almost every modulation, from the ch’®^ 
mellow tones of the wood thrush, to the savage screi'j® 
of the bald eagle. In measure and accent, he faithful'.' 
follows his originals. In force and sweetness of e.xpi®''' 
sion, he greatly improves upon them. In bis nafi'® 
groves, mounted on the top of a tall bush, or half-groU’® 
tree, in the dawn of dewy morning, while the woo®' 
are already vocal with a multitude of warblers, 1>‘* 
admirable song rises pre-eminent over every compctit®®; ■ 
The ear can listen to hig music alone, to \Vhich that 
all the others seems a mere accompaniment. Neitb®^ 
is this strain altogether imitative. His own nati®* 
notes, which are easily distinguishable by such as a®* 
well a('r[UHiute(l with those of our viirious song bir<l* 
are bold and full, and varied seemingly beyond 
limits. They consist of short expressions of t"'* 
three, or, at the most, five or si.x syllables ; general*.! 
interspersed with imitations, and all of them utter® 
with great emphasis and rapidity ; and continued, 
undimiuished ardour, for half an hour, or an hour, 
time. His expanded wings and tail, glistening ''7*^ 
white, and the buoyant gaiety of his action, arrestit" 
the eye, as his song most irresistibly docs the e®'^! 
he sweeps round with enthusiastic ecstasy — he mou®*’ 
and descends as his song swells or dies away ; and, 
my friend Mr Bartram has beautifully expressed ®’ 
