The Mocking Bird. BIRDS. The Cat Bird. 331 
tai-y disposition, being usually seen eitlier singly or in 
pairs. The nest is built in a bush, and composed 
externally of a lai'ge quantity of dead beech leaves, 
within wliich is a cup formed of dry grass and mud, 
smoothly plastered and lined with the fine fibrous roots 
of plants. The eggs are four or five in number, and 
of a uniform light blue colour. 
THE MOCKING BIRD {Mimus polyglottus) — Plate 10, 
fig. 34 —the most celebrated of the American thrushes, 
is found not only in the United States, but also in the 
West Indies and South America, being .stationary in 
the warmer regions, but migratory, or partially so, in 
the colder. It is between nine and ten inches in 
length; the plumage of the upper parts is brownish-ash 
colour, with the wings and tail nearly black ; the lower 
parts are brownish-white. The Mocking Bird is found 
principally in the woods of low districts, where it feeds 
upon the berries which grow in profusion on the luxu- 
riant thickets of the swamps, and also upon insects, 
which it often captures on the wing with great dexte- 
rity. The nest is placed in a thick bush or tree, and is 
usually composed of twigs, straws, dry grass, wool, and 
tow, and lined with a layer of fine fibrous roots ; the 
eggs are generally four in number, of a grayish-blue 
colour, with large brown patches. During the season 
of incubation, the male attacks every creature that 
approaches the nest, exhibiting a particular animosity to 
the black snake, which, as Wilson tells us, is “ the mortal 
enemyofhis eggs and young.” “ Whenever,” says Wil- 
son, “ the insidious approaches of this reptile are discov- 
ered, the male darts upon it with the rapidity of an arrow, 
dexterously eluding its bite, and striking it violently 
and incessantly about the head, where it is very vul- 
nerable. The snake soon becomes sensible of its 
danger, and seeks to escape ; but the intrepid defender 
of his young redoubles his exertions, and, unless his 
antagonist be of great magnitude, often succeeds in 
destroying him.” After a victory of this kind, the 
bird places himself on the top of the bush containing 
his nest, and pours forth a perfect torrent of song, and 
this, from its power and wonderful variety, is described 
as equal to that of any other bird, not even excepting 
the nightingale. Like that charming English songster 
he sings both by day and night, and at the latter season 
his melody is described as “ making the whole neigh- 
bourhood ring.” But the most remarkable point 
connected with the vocal performances of this bird, 
consists in his wonderful power of imitation, the 
notes and cries of almost every bird or animal being 
mixed up with his own proper song in the most extra- 
ordinary manner. “ In his domesticated state,” says 
Wilson, “ when he commences his career of song, it is' 
impossible to stand by uninterested. He whistles for 
the dog; Csesar starts up, wags his tail, and runs to meet 
liis master. He squeaks out like a hurt chicken, and 
the hen hurries about with hanging wings and bristled 
feathers, clucking to protect its injured brood. The 
barking of the dog, the mewing of the cat, the creaking 
of a passing wheelbarrow, follow with great truth anrl 
rapidity.” The songs and notes of other small birds 
are also imitated, and even improved upon by the Mock- 
ing Bird; and so perfect are the imitations of this 
incomparable mimic, that he not unfrequently deceives 
the sportsman, and even the birds themselves whose 
note he borrows.” This fondness for imitation cannot 
bur impair the beauty of the bird’s song, and yet 
Wilson seems to think that it constitutes one of its 
chief excellencies, “ as the.se changes give a perpetual 
novelty to his strain, keep attention constantly awake, 
and impress every hearer with a deeper interest in what 
is to follow.” 
THE CAT BIRD {Mimus felivox), which is nearly 
allied to the preceding, owes his name to the singular 
note, resembling that of “ some vagrant orphan kitten 
bewildered amongst the briers,” which he is fond of 
uttering. He is a bird of passage in the United 
States, in the southern parts of which he arrives as early 
as the end of February; he takes up his abode in the 
thickets, and feeds both upon insects and fruits, resort- 
ing to the gardens in search of the latter. The nest 
is placed in a thick bush, and resembles that of the 
Mocking Bird in its construction. 
THE WHITE HEADED BABBLER {Malacocercus 
griseus), an inhabitant of India, is rather less than our 
blackbird, and is of a gray colour, with the crown of 
the head and back of the neck white, and the lower 
surface tinged with red. It is an abundant and 
sociable bird, dwelling in hedges, groves, and gardens, 
and seeking its food, which consists principally of 
insects and worms, on the ground, where it is seen 
turning over the dead leaves, and even searching 
heaps of dung, whence the name of Diri-hird is given 
to it b}' the English in India. This bird has no song. 
THE LAUGHING THRUSH {Pterocyclus cachinnans), 
another Indian species nearly allied to the preceding, 
is especially abundant in the thick woods which clothe 
the Neilgherries, where it is usually seen among the 
lower branches of the trees, but appears rarely to 
alight on the ground. Its food consists principally of 
fruits, varied with catterpillars and other soft-bodied 
insects. It is a noisy bird, and its name is derived 
from its peculiar cry, which is described by Mr. Jerdon 
as “ a sort of cracked Punch and -ludy laugh.” 
THE BLACK-FACED BABBLER {Garrulax chinensis), 
a native of China, where it is known by the name of 
Shanhu, is about the size of the common blackbird, and 
of an olive brown colour above, gray beneath, with the 
orbits, chin, and throat black. It is an inhabitant of 
the woods, and is a good songster; also imitatmg 
almost every sound that it hears. Its food consists of 
insects and other small animals, and in confinement it 
has even been known to kill a snake of a foot in length 
by striking it through the head with its bill. 
THE WHITE EYE-BROWED THRUSH {Pomatorhinus 
super ciliosus). This bird, which is an inhabitant of 
the whole southern portion of Austi'alia, is described 
by Mr. Gould as the most restless, noisy, and queru- 
lous bird that he ever encountered. It runs and hops 
about amongst the branches of the trees uttering a 
“ jarring, chattering, and discordant jumble of notes, 
which are sometimes prec eded by a rapidly repeated 
shrill piping whistle.” These birds are usually met 
with in small flocks of from six to ten in number ; they 
feed upon the ground under the trees, and when dis- 
turbed fly up to the lowest branch, and then go off in 
a line to the top of the tree, whence they usually 
