The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-28
WITH THE MOCkiNG BIRDS.
Some Achievements of "a Wild songstcr IL
Virginia.

Virginia.
Dat mockin' bird out yonder, nigh
ther barn, is a-whistlin' Tara boom
de-ray." sure, boss; leas' it soun's like it
ter me
This surprising announcement was
made one day lately by a hand on the
Virginia farm of a relative OF mine 10
whom | was paying short visit. had
just left the breakfast table and, of
course, went out at once To verify the
report, quite confident it was true, be-
cause nothing seemed beyond the vocal
reach of the bird referred 10 and he had
often enough to have added it to his
repertory if he liked it.
But the bird did not sing that air
while | was listener He sat on the
topmost sprig of an untrimned osage-
orange hedge, where / could see him
plainly, and was outdoing all the song
sters OF the neighborhood in their own
specialties Of music His voice was at
its best, and his happiness was shown
not only by song but by frequent leaps
into the air. followed by wild gyra ations
on the wing. Even when on his perch
he spread his long black and white
tail and his wings and went through a
series of excited capers.
He initiated about al the small
birds | have ever heard singing in Nif-
ginia. which is a paradise for those en-
jOying such music. and often he i'm
proved on the originals Even the
scream of the hawk was not beyond his
lung power, and the tiniest twittcrer
was not too humble to tempt his fiat
teriug throat The blucbirds LIQUID
notes were improved 10y Il certain addi-
ton of power and distinctness, and the
killdeer's rather strident midair CRY
was toned down to real melody. Rob
bins. blue jays, goldfnches. fickers..
woodpeckers. martins, bob-o-lnks and
many other birds were within hearing
at the time and ! could not detect any
difference between the genuine and the
imitation notes
''Several field larlxs were also whist
ling nearby, bat not once did the mock
ing bird repeat their peculiar noise |
am told that be never initiates the
lark, and am therefore forcea 20 be
lieye that the lark Is IA poor songster,
for this mocking birds taste is un-
doubtedly that q master musician.
The robins al the year round notes be
delights In, but the robin has love
song that is treated with scorn. u Is
IeYky and incomplete
he particular E.ocking bird ! am
referring 70 has little history lie
and his mate came 20 the farm three
springs ago and after 4 careful scru-
tiny Of al the vacant cedars, hoDey-
suckle arbors and other secure and
cosy fats they went 81 house keeping IN
a Wild vine that had grown into q
mass over bit II absn- |
doned rail fence.
a worse selection could not have
been made cats and dosss could reach /
the top q the vine almost o. readil = as !
a bird. and one dag r. black sad tan |
terrier uup f0und hls wag - TIE nest :
and red oae Of the youngsterN I'm /
uediateiy there was ssUaliiHF, aud /
the mother bird cams as fast o. w-oEs
esJld carry hcr and dew fereolT and 1
unhesitstinrly into the puppy face. I
~be eosngel'e3 bin 10 drop the young |
bird but il was dead and psi him -
alght
be eonm0tion bTouTh. an Old set- i
reT dog - the spot ANT tne mocksnE
5.rd turned epon hius. making such "a 4
aco at=yu4 hts car and eyes TIA. De Dr.
sleica 20 retire ~ esu-se on@ suau u /,
as L. EsS szfffts4 s. - asrsSex 4ss aurset-
snce tut be was - pee eli bred and tss