Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1842-10-22
THE MOCKING. BIRD.

The intelligence which the American
mock,ng.bird displays in listening to, and
laying up lessons, from almost every spe-
cies OF the iealhered creation within bis
hearing, is really surprising, and marks
the popularity Of his genius. He poss S
ses voice full, strong and musical, and
capable OF almost every meditation, from
the clear mellow notes of the wood thrush
to the savage scream Of The bald headed
eagle La the measure and accent be
faithfully follows his originals. In force
and sweetness Of expression, be greatly
improves upon them. In his native groves
mounted on the top Of a tall bush, or half
grown tree, in the dawn OF dewy morn
ing, While the woods are -airaAdy vocal
with "a multitude of warblers, his admiral
Bile song rises pre~emlnent over every
competlor Neither is this strain alto-
gether initiative. His own native notes,
which are easily dlstingIishable, are bold
and full, and varied seemingly beyond all
limits. They consist of short express
sions Of two or three, or at most five or
six sylabIes, generally interspersed with
limitations, and alH them uttered with
great emphasis and rapidly, and cotnued
with undImnlshed ardor, The buoyant
gaioty OF his action arrestlng the eye, as
his song most irreslstably does the ear, he
sweeps round with an enthusiastic ecstacy
l-he moups and descends as his song
swelIs or dies away; and, as it has been
beautifully expressed, che bounds aloit
with the CELEBRITY of an arrow, as tito re-
cover or recall his very soul, expired IN
, the last elevated strain.n While exerting
, himself, hystauder, destitute OF sight
. would suppose that the whole fedthered
, tribe had assembled together on trial OF
) skill each striving to produce his utmost
effect, SO perfect are his limitations. He
) MANY times decleves the sportsman, and
sends him in search of birds that perhaps
= are not within miles OF, but whose notes
3 he exactly initiates; even birds themselves
8 are frequently imposed on by TINS admIra
!, BILE mimic, and are decoyed by the lanclec
: calls OF their mate, or dive witk pIecipita
: ton into the depth of the thickets, at IN,
!. scream of what they suppose to be Tx
d sparrow-hawk. ]
= The knocking. bird loses little of the pow
Q err and energy Of his song by confinement
!, In his domesticated state, when be CON
8 mences his career Of song, II is impossible,
Q TO stand by uninlerested. He whistles 70
4 the dog; Caesar starts up, ways his tail, 4
d runs to meet his master. tie squeaks ou
6 like hurt chicken, and the ben hurrle
:. bout with hanging wings and brlslIe
6 feathers, cuckiag to protect her injure
brood. The barking of the dog, the new
IT ing of the cat, the creoking OF passin
9 wheeIbarrow, follow with great truth an
y rapidly. lie repeats ths tune taught biz
If by his master, though of conslderabl
c length, fully and faithfully. He runs owe
'r the quiveriogs of the Canary aud the clea
/ whisllngs of the Virginia nightingale, {
st red bird, with such superior execution an
Is effect, that tho mortified song'iers fee
I, their own inreriorty, and become alto
in ge,her silent, while he seems TO trump
m in their defeat, by rebuilding bis exc
o. tons.
rs This excessive londness Of variety, hov
D. ever, in the opinion Of some, Injuries h
song. His elevated limitations OF II
brown thrush are frequently lnterrnpt(
bv the growing Of cocks; and the warhllr
n Of tho blue bird, which be exqoislle
is manages, are Mingled with the screamir
il OF swallows, or tho clcbllog OF hen3-'