102 
MOCKING-BIRD. 
ingale, which posseses its own native notes alone. Further; if we 
consider, as is asserted by Mr. Barrington, that “ one reason of 
“ the Nightingale’s being more attended to than others is, that 
“ it sings in the night;” and if we believe with Shakspeare, that 
“ The Nightingale, if she should sing by day 
When every goose is cackling, would be thought 
No better a musician than a Wren,” 
what must we think of that bird, who in the glare of day, when 
a multitude of songsters are straining their throats in melody, 
overpowers all competition; and by the superiority of his voice, 
expression and action, not only attracts every ear, but frequently 
strikes dumb his mortified rivals; — when the silence of night 
as well as the bustle of day, bear witness to his melody; and 
when even in captivity, in a foreign country, he is declared by 
the best judges in that country, to be fully equal to the song of 
their sweetest bird in its whole compass? The supposed degra- 
dation of his song by the introduction of extraneous sounds, and 
unexpected imitations, is, in fact, one of the chief excellencies 
of this bird; as these changes give a perpetual novelty to his 
strain, keep attention constantly awake, and impress every hear- 
er with a deeper interest in what is to follow. In short, if we 
believe in the truth of that mathematical axiom, that the whole 
is greater than a part, all that is excellent or delightful, amusing 
or striking, in the music of birds, must belong to that admira- 
ble songster, whose vocal powers are equal to the whole com- 
pass of their whole strains. 
The native notes of the Mocking-bird have considerable re- 
semblance to those of the Brown Thrush, but may easily be dis- 
tinguished by their greater rapidity, sweetness, energy of ex- 
pression and variety. Both, however, have in many parts of the 
United States, particularly in those to the south, obtained the 
name of Mocking-bird. The first, or Brown Thrush, from its 
inferiority of song being called the French, and the other the 
English Mocking-bird. A mode of expression probably original- 
