The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-07-13
The Mncking Bird.

The family of birds to which this
songster belongs is one of the charms OF
our American woods, and they are pc
culiarly American. 1t embraces the cat
bird, the brown-thrush, and other birds |
well-known to every boy in the Land
whose time has not been spent in
routine of dull city life. The whole
genus is called Minus, and deservedly,
for they are set of mimics but the
mocking- bird is the king of them all.
1t is shy, active, migratory bird, feed
ing on insects, berries, and worms, and
for point of song is superior to all other
denizens of our woods. 1t has even been
preferred to the nightingale for the
mellowness, modulations, and gradua-
tions, as well as for extent of compass
and brilliancy of execution. Its powers
of imitation are such that, to blind
man, it would seem that the whole
feathered tribe had assembled to try
their skill in song, when it chooses to
exercise this faculty. 1t can adapt its
tongue to any note, from the feeble
chirp of the chicken to the scream of
the hawk. 1t deceives the sportsman,
cheats and terrifes birds, whistles to
the dog, and initiates almost every
sound, animate or inanimate. 1t loves
to build its nest in gardens, near our
houses.
In the Gulf States they are found all
the year. Some go North in the spring
and return in October-being most
plentiful near the seashore, on sandy
districts with few trees.
Webber's account of this magnificent
songster is SO pleasing that we insert
part of it here al saw it now leaping
up from its favorite perch on tree-top,
much in the manner 1 had observed be-
fore but now it was in different
mood, and seemed to mount, thus spirit
like, upon the wilder ecstasies, and
floating fall on the subsiding cadence
of tnat passionate song it poured into
the listening ear of love, for 1 could see
his mate, with fainter bars across her
wings, where she sat upon thornbush
near, and listened. When this magnifi-
cent creature commenced to sing, the
very air was burdened with thousand
different notes, but his voice rose clear
and melodiously loud above them all
AS I listened, one song after another
ceased suddenly, until in few minutes
! and before could realize that was so
,, I found myself hearkening to that soil.
tary voice. This is positive fact !
/, looked around me in astonishment
l What! are they cowedY But his song
l only now grew more exulting, and, as i
l feeling his triumph, he bounded ye
r higher with each new gush, and, il
l swift and quivering raptures, dived
> skinned, and foated round, round, theI
I rose to fall again more boldly on tn
. billowy storm of sound. No wonder tn
y other birGs were silent to listen, for, on
after one, he hurled the notes of eacl
; upon its ear, so alchemyzed with splen
= = dor that they knew not their own song
This curious phenomenon I have wit
y messed many times since. Even in tn
y morning choir, when every little throa
seemed strained in emulation, if tn
mocl1ing-bird breathes forth in one c
9 its mad, bewildered, and bewilderin
s. extravaganzas, the other birds pause a.
, most invariably, and remain silent unit
l. his song was done. This, l assure you
e is no fgment of the imagination c
8 illusion of an excited fancy it is just q
. substantial a fact as any one in naturs
u history. Whether the other birds sto
from envy, as has been said, or froI
7, awe, cannot be so we'll ascertained br
IL 1 believe it is from the sentiment of awe
o for as I certainly have felt it myself
listening to the mocking-bird, 1 do NJ
y know why these inferior creatures shoul
D. not, also. 1t must be known that thei
W creatures differ from each other as d
6 men and women in their vocal power
and there is usually one bird in a neigl
T, borhood that supremely surpasses,
IL 4 IL Ill = n
T. that all other mocking-birds retire fro
Ie the immediate neighborhood of this a
- knowledged monarch, to such distan'
- that you can hear but the faintest not
from them in the pauses of his song, an
y it sounds as if they but prolonged I'll
s' echo"