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COMMON MOCKING-BIRD. 
world that possesses all the musical qualifications of this king of song, who 
has derived all from Nature’s self. Yes, reader, all ! 
No sooner has he again alighted, and the conjugal contract has been sealed, 
than, as if his breast was about to be rent with delight, he again pours forth 
his notes with more softness and richness than before. He now soars higher, 
glancing around with a vigilant eye, to assure himself that none has witnessed 
his bliss. When these love-scenes, visible only to the ardent lover of nature, 
are over, he dances through the air, full of animation and delight, and, as if 
to convince his lovely mate that to enrich her hopes he has much more love 
in store, he that moment begins anew, and imitates all the notes which nature 
has imparted to the other songsters of the grove. 
For awhile, each long day and pleasant night are thus spent ; but at a 
peculiar note of the female he ceases his song, and attends to her wishes. A 
nest is to be prepared, and the choice of a place in which to lay it is to 
become a matter of mutual consideration. The orange, the fig, the pear- 
tree of the gardens are inspected ; the thick briar patches, are also visited. 
They appear all so well suited for the purpose in view, and so well does the 
bird know that man is not his most dangerous enemy, that instead of retiring 
from him, they at length fix their abode in his vicinity, perhaps in the 
nearest tree to his window. Dried twigs, leaves, grasses, cotton, flax, and 
other substances, are picked up, carried to a forked branch, and there 
arranged. Five eggs are deposited in due time, when the male having little 
more to do than to sing his mate to repose, attunes his pipe anew. Every 
now and then he spies an insect on the ground, the taste of which he is sure 
will please his beloved one. He drops upon it, takes it in his bill, beats it 
against the earth, and flies to the nest to feed and receive the warm thanks 
of his devoted female. 
When a fortnight has elapsed, the young brood demand all their care and 
attention. No cat, no vile snake, no dreaded Hawk, is likely to visit their 
habitation. Indeed the inmates of the next house have by this time become 
quite attached to the lovely pair of Mocking birds, and take pleasure in 
contributing to their safety. The dew berries from the fields, and many 
kinds of fruit from the gardens, mixed with insects, supply the young as 
well as the parents with food. The brood is soon seen emerging from the 
nest, and in another fortnight, being now able to fly with vigour, and to 
provide for themselves, they leave the parent birds, as many other species do. 
The above account does not contain all that I wish you to know of the 
habits of this remarkable songster ; so, I shall shift the scene to the woods 
and wilds, where we shall examine it more particularly. 
The Mocking-bird remains in Louisiana the whole year. I have observed 
with astonishment, that towards the end of October, when those which had 
