112 MOCKING BIRD.
the old males are heard singing with as much spirit as during the spring
or summer, while the younger birds are busily engaged in practising,
preparatory to the love season. They seldom resort to the interior of
the forest either during the day or by night, but usually roost among
the foliage of evergreens, in the immediate vicinity of houses in Louisiana,
although in the Eastern States they prefer low fir trees.
The flight of the Mocking Bird is performed by short jerks of the
body and wings, at every one of which a strong twitching motion of the
tail is perceived. This motion is still more apparent while the bird is
walking, when it opens its tail like a fan and instantly closes it again.
The common cry or call of this bird is a very mournful note, resembling
that uttered on similar occasions by its first cousin the Turdus ritf'us, or,
as it is commonly called, the " French Mocking Bird.'1'' When travelling,
this flight is only a little prolonged, as the bird goes from tree to
tree, or at most across a field, scarcely, if ever, rising higher than the top
of the forest. During this migration, it generally resorts to the highest
parts of the woods near water-courses, utters its usual mournful note, and
roosts in these places. It travels mostly by day.
Few hawks attack the Mocking Birds, as on their approach, however
sudden it may be, they are always ready not only to defend themselves
vigorously and with undaunted courage, but to meet the aggressor half
way, and force him to abandon his intention. The only hawk that occasionally
surprises it is the Falco Stanleii, which flies low with great
swiftness, and carries the bird off without any apparent stoppage.
Should it happen that the ruffian misses his prey, the Mocking Bird in
turn becomes the assailant, and pursues the Hawk with great courage,
calling in the mean time all the birds of its species to its assistance ; and
although it cannot overtake the marauder, the alarm created by their
cries, which are propagated in succession among all the birds in the vicinity,
like the watchwords of sentinels on duty, prevents him from succeeding
in his attempts.
The musical powers of this bird have often been taken notice of by
European naturalists, and persons who find pleasure in listening to the
song of different birds whilst in confinement or at large. Some of these
persons have described the notes of the Nightingale as occasionally fully
equal to those of our bird. I have frequently heard both species in confinement,
and in the wild state, and without prejudice, have no hesitation
in pronouncing the notes of the European Philomel equal to those of a
MOCKING BIRD. 113
soubretie of taste, which, could she study under a M O Z A R T , might perhaps
in time become very interesting in her way. But to compare her
essays to the finished talent of the Mocking Bird, is, in my opinion, quite
absurd.
The Mocking Bird is easily reared by hand from the nest, from
which it ought to be removed when eight or ten days old. It becomes so
very familiar and affectionate, that it will often follow its owner about the
house. I have known one raised from the nest kept by a gentleman at
Natchez, that frequently flew out of the house, poured forth its melodies,
and returned at sight of its keeper. But notwithstanding all the care
and management bestowed upon the improvement of the vocal powers of
this bird in confinement, I never heard one in that state produce any
thing at all approaching in melody to its own natural song.
The male bird is easily distinguished in the nest, as soon as the brood
is a little fledged, it being larger than the female, and shewing more pure
white. It does not shrink so deep in the nest as the female does, at the
sight of the hand which is about to lift it. Good singing birds of this
species often bring a high price. They are long-lived, and very agreeable
companions. Their imitative powers are amazing, and they mimic
with ease all their brethren of the forests or of the waters, as well as
many quadrupeds. I have heard it asserted that they possess the power
of imitating the human voice, but have never met with an instance of the
display of this alleged faculty.
TURDUS POLYOLOTTCS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 293.—Lath. Ind. Ornilh. vol. i.
p. 339—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 74.
.MIMIC THRUSH, Lath. Synops. vol. iii. p. 40.
MOCKING BIRD, TURDUS POLYGLOTTUS, Wils. Americ. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 11.
PI. x. fig. 1.
Adult Male. Plate XXI. Fig. 1, 1.
Bill of moderate length, rather weak, compressed, straightish ; upper
mandible slightly arched in its dorsal outline, little decimate at the
tip; lower mandible nearly straight, acute. Nostrils basal,oblong, halfclosed
by a membrane. Head of ordinary size. Neck and body rather
slender. Feet longish, rather strong; tarsus compressed, acute behind,
covered anteriorly with a few long scutella; toes scutcllate above, the
n