THE MOCKING-BIRD. 
parts, and give tliem an appearance of having been scalded. 
The best remedy is to place a large and vary rusty nail in the 
bird’s drinking-vessel, and to clear away the feathers from the 
inflamed region and anoint the same with unsalted butter. 
The redstart is subject to fits. When this is the case, take 
him out of his cage, and, holding him by the feet, dip him 
entirely in a pan of cold water. Open his beak gently, and put 
a few drips of cold water into his mouth. If he recovers, put 
a pinch of nitre into his water-pot, and renew the dose twice a 
week for a month. Besides the maladies here mentioned, the 
redstart is subject to many others, and under the most 
favourable circumstances it is rare that a bird survives 
longer than four or five years. 
CHAPTER IY. 
THE MOCKING-BIRD. 
This transatlantic member of the Merulidae is, without doubt, 
one of the most wonderful of feathered wonders. Its imitations 
are not mere burlesques, and it will render the melodious notes 
of the nightingale not less clearly than the bray of the jackass. 
The Mexican name for this little creature is “ the bird of four 
hundred tongues.” “ In extent and variety of vocal powers,” 
says Wilson, “ the mocking-bird stands unrivalled by the whole 
feathered songsters of tins or perhaps any other country. Its 
plumage, though none of the homeliest, has nothing gaudy or 
brilliant in it, and, had he nothing else to recommend him, 
would scarcely entitle him to notice. But his figure is well 
proportioned, and even handsome. The ease, elegance, and 
rapidity of his movements, the animation of his eye, and the in- 
telligence he displays in listening to and laying up lessons from 
almost eveiy species of the feathered creation within his hear- 
ing are really surprising, and mark the peculiarity of his 
genius. To these qualities we may add that of a voice full, 
strong, and musical, and capable of almost every modulation, 
from the clear and mellow tone of the wood-thrush to the 
savage scream of the bald eagle. In measure and accent he 
faithfully follows his originals ; in force and sweetness of 
expression he greatly improves upon them. In his native 
groves, mounted on the top of a tall bush or half- grown tree 
S3 
