
yo THE NATURAL HISTORY 
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(wie MOCKING Tavs H- 
2 rd fs . i ms 
“Its back is dufky, its breaft and two outnioft tail feathers — 
‘are white, and its eyebrows are white, | 
Zt is an inhabitant of America. 
Sufpended in the air, it enraptures ‘thofe who 
‘hear it with its fong; ‘which no melody can 
fival,. : : 
Though its natural notes be inexpreflibly 
{weet, its powers of imitation are fuch, that it can 
mimic the fong of every-bird it hears, and any 
other noife however difcordant ; the mewing of a 
‘cat, the chattering of a magpye, or the croaking © 
of afrog; from the variety of its note, it has a 
name among the Mexicans which fignifies 400 
tongues. It begins generally with its own na- ; 
tural-fong, and introduces into ita variety of rine 
Jody, which it has adopted from other'birds. 
In the warmer parts of America it is lings 
ing almoft incefiantly, day and night, from 
March, to Augut ; atid as though animated by 
its own inimitable fong, 1t gradually raifes itfelf 
on the place it is perched on, extending its neck, 
drawing it back, ftooping, rifling, fluttering 18” 
wings, and turning 1 ittelf round with a — of | 
action. | ia 
| The 

