THE MOCKING BIRD. 
69 
European nightingale. This, however, I am unable to do 
from my own observation, having never myself heard the 
song of the latter; and, even if I had, perhaps something 
might be laid to the score of partiality, which, as a faithful 
biographer, I am anxious to avoid. I shall, therefore, 
present the reader with the opinion of a distinguished English 
naturalist and curious observer, on this subject, the Honour- 
able Haines Barrington, who, at the time he made the com- 
munication, was vice-president of the Boyal Society, to which 
it was addressed. 
“ It may not be improper here,” says this gentleman, “ to 
consider whether the nightingale may not have a very 
formidable competitor in the American Mocking Bird, 
though almost all travellers agree, that the concert in the 
European woods is superior to that of the other parts of the 
globe.” ee I have happened, however, to hear the American 
Mocking Bird, in great perfection, at Messrs. Yogels and 
Scotts, in Love Lane, Eastcheap. This bird is believed to 
be still living, and hath been in England these six years. 
During the space of a minute, he imitated the woodlark, 
chaffinch, blackbird, thrush, and sparrow. I was told also 
that he would bark like a dog; so that the bird seems to 
have no choice in his imitations, though his pipe comes 
nearest to our nightingale of any bird I have yet met with. 
u With regard to the original notes, however, of this bird, 
we are still at a loss, as this can only be known by those 
who are accurately acquainted with the song of the other' 
