The Dillon tribune., 1886-06-19
THE MOCKING BIRD.
GRADUAL DETERMINATION OF THE
sONGsTER OF THE SOUTH.
Shot by Unsentimental Huntrr Rob-
hin. the NcstS-The NIocl>ing Bird from
u Sentimental Point of Eien--I4is Non-
tlerrul Powers of song.

y great deal has been written during
the last three years concerning the grad
ual determination of the souths splendid
songster. the hooking bird, or to he more
definite, the Minus Polyg!ottus. The
Telegraph first called attention to the sub
jcct, and see no reason to doubt that the
theory then advanced to account for the
growing scarcity of the birds was and is a
true one. The reason given was the I'M
checked slaughter of the birds by negro
"sportslnen," and the destruction or cap
turc OF heir young from wantOnness or u
desire for gain. The theory has beel, COM
bated 1t i, stated by some that the Eng
lish sparrow is driving out the singers
by Others that the destruction of the for
ests has something to do with the evil. 1t
Is even suggested that hurricanes may be
the real cause. None of these theories
will stand tn" test. The English sparrow
can not. in fact no bird can, drive out the
Knockers, who belong to Il game and bel
ligerent family The common hooking
bird will attack dogs. cats, hawks, crows,
and buzzards when they invade his range,
and have never known one of them to
give mp the contest He is not I; forest
bird. but Of the fields. He prefers Al open
situation and the haunts OF men. The
orchard, hedge, !, solitary haw bush,
where he has plenty of sunlight and a
breadth OF view suits him best. And it is
in he fields and orchards that he finds
food. Of all nests his is probably the
most carefully built, and little trouble is
taken to conceal it, He Seems, to feel that
his song is the price of security, and this
mistake is fast playing havoc with him.
DESTRUCTION Ey NEGRO lH NrEEs.
Up to emancipation times, OF rather the
MI x,f$ .s..1,,
plentiful every where in Georgia. Dur.
ing the years that followed freedom armed
Il race to whom guns had been forbidden.
The negro became an enthusiastic hunter
but he was unskilled and could not graf.
ify his craze for destroying only upon
birds that were nearest at hand. Mock
ing birds, cardinals, jo-reels. catbirls and
thrushes went down as easy conQuests be-
fore Il class that had never been taught
better. and had neither sentiment nor con-
science. The negro hunter Of to-day. with
possibly II few exceptions, are not wing
shots, and they Till their bags with birds
that can be killed in the trees 1t goes
without saying that these are the birds
that should he spared to the fields and to
society. My observation has been that
few, very few, negroes will pass, gun il,
hand, anything that has feathers and is
large enough to cook, and this is borne
out by the fact that the bluejay, the wood,
pecker, and the catbird are disappearin.
from the fields and woods almost as fast
As the hooking bird proper.
The destruction of the mocking bird has
been more rapid because his nest has been
Systematically robbed by parties of botl
colors for private gain or graft
ticatiOn. \ year or two since
nntal ..b x>f Ii, 4,
from Savannah which contained tir, or go
Upon the streets OF this and I'LL other elite:
they are openly sold every summer.
When, however, We look al him from q
sentimental point. the wonde l. that any one
can harm Il member Uf the nlOckin. bird
family increases No song bird in the
world can equal the sweet hess of his no; Z.
or sustain SONG so long. No bird known
to naturalistS can produce the notes nj
others and Ot fowls or even animals Will
such precision aud in such combination
The little gray singer that balances hin,
self upon treetops. or dances along tn.
ridges of our houses, seems to have all III,
bird notes OF the land ut his tongues end
and to delight in weaving them into new
forms of beauty. That he has never bee,
the poets theme to the extent that thu
lark. the nightingale, or even tn. robin
has. ] attribute to his name. 1t is not iltet
for Verse; nor is it ut :,ll poctival. Had Ii
horne the name Of Orphcus. rs does Il,
cousin, Of the Greater antilles. he woul,
have filled the song lore If ti,c south Pa,,
Haync, William Hamilton iluyuc. and
few Others have USED him. bur none iav
conquered his piri'c::u ramr.
SONGS or TIL, iDuN!N,; BIRD.
MOckiny birds can y. ,aUw.r alr,,>