324 
INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 
cate, and symmetrical in its proportions. His motions 
are easy, rapid, and graceful, perpetually animated with 
a playful caprice, and a look that appears full of shrewd- 
ness and intelligence. He listens with silent attention 
to each passing sound, treasures up lessons from any 
thing vocal, and is capable of imitating with exactness, 
both in measure and accent, the notes of all the feathered 
creation. And, however wild and discordant the tones 
and calls may be, he contrives with an Orphean talent, 
peculiarly his own, to infuse into them that sweetness of 
expression, and harmonious modulation which character- 
izes this inimitable and wonderful composer. With the 
dawn of morning, while yet the sun lingers below the 
blushing horizon, our sublime songster, in his native 
wilds, mounted on the topmost branch of a tall bush or 
tree in the forest, pours out his admirable song, which,, 
amidst the multitude of notes from all the warbling host,, 
still rises preeminent, so that his solo is heard alone, and 
all the rest of the musical choir appear employed in mere 
accompaniments to this grand actor in the sublime opera 
of nature. Nor is his talent confined to imitation ; his 
native notes are also bold, full, and perpetually varied,, 
consisting of short expressions of a few variable syllables, 
interspersed with imitations, and uttered with great em- 
phasis and volubility, sometimes for half an hour at a 
time, with undiminished ardor. These native strains 
bear a considerable resemblance to those of the Brown 
Thrush, to whom he is so nearly related in form, habits, 
and manners; but, like rude from cultivated genius, his 
notes are distinguished by the rapidity of their delivery, 
their variety, sweetness, and energy. As if conscious of 
his unrivalled powers of song, and animated by the har- 
mony of his own voice, his music is, as it were, accom- 
panied by chromatic dancing and expressive gestures ; 
