LIFE OF WILSON. 
cxcv 
recover his very soul, which expired in the last elevated strain.’ 
While thus exerting himself, a bystander, destitute of sight, 
would suppose that the whole feathered tribes had assembled 
together, on a trial of skill, each striving to produce his utmost 
effect, so perfect are his imitations. He many times deceives 
the sportsman, and sends him in search of birds that perhaps are 
not within miles of him; but whose notes he exactly imitates. 
Even birds themselves are frequently imposed on by this admi- 
rable mimick, and are decoyed by the fancied calls of their 
mates; or dive, with precipitation, into the depths of thickets, 
at the scream of what they suppose to be the Sparrow Hawk. 
“ The Mocking-bird loses little of the power and energy of 
his song by confinement. In his domesticated state, when he 
commences his career of song, it is impossible to stand by un- 
interested. He whistles for the dog: Csesar starts up, wags his 
tail, and runs to meet his master. He squeaks out like a hurt 
chicken, and the hen hurries about with hanging wings, and 
bristled feathers, clucking to protect her injured brood. He runs 
over the quiverings of the Canary, and the clear whistlings of 
the . Virginia Nightingale or Red-bird, with such superior exe- 
cution and effect, that the mortified songsters feel their own 
inferiority, and become altogether silent; while he seems to 
triumph in their defeat by redoubling his exertions. 
“This excessive fondness for variety, however, in the opi- 
nion of some, injures his song. His elevated imitations of the 
Brown Thrush are frequently interrupted by the crowing of 
cocks; and the warblings of the Blue-bird, which he exquisitely 
manages, are mingled with the screaming of Swallows, or the 
cackling of hens; amidst the simple melody of the Robin we 
are suddenly surprised by the shrill reiterations of the Whip- 
poorwill, while the notes of the Kildeer, Blue Jay, Martin, Bal- 
timore, and twenty others, succeed, with such imposing reality, 
that we look round for the originals, and discover, with aston- 
ishment, that the sole performer in this singular concert is the 
admirable bird now before us. During this exhibition of his 
powers, he spreads his wings, expands his tail, and throws him- 
