crossbill’s story. 
155 
for the life of me, think where such birds 
could have come from, for I never met with 
them before.” 
I think I can throw a little light on this 
matter,” quietly remarked Woodcock, who 
had been listening with great attention to 
Crossbill’s story. I have seen a great many 
of those birds in the Southern States, where, 
from their habits of mimicking, they are called 
^ mocking-birds.’ You have described them 
very well, Mr. Crossbill.” 
Such corroboration of the story of Crossbill 
was not to be gainsaid, and the listeners be- 
came more attentive to the story they were 
hearing than ever. 
In addition to the birds that I have al- 
ready referred to,” resumed Crossbill, there 
were others clad in the most gorgeous yellow, 
^liey were of the size of a sparrow, and re- 
sembled that bird in general appearance. 
They were equally noisy with the rest, and 
between them all my head came near split- 
ting. 
Well, I kept pretty quiet for a day or two. 
