The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-15
The Mocking Bird
of North Carolina
MOnitor)

" Superb and sole upon a plumed
spray
That DER the general LEAKAGE boldly
grew
as literally as though Lanier had
sketched that particular bird, stood
the first free mocking-bird ever
heard writes Olive Thorn Miller III
her book, In Nesting Time His
perch was the topmoSt twig of the
tallest tree in the group. It was a
cedar, perhaps fifteen feet high.
around which q jasmine vine had
clambered, and that morning opened
a cluster of fragrant blossoms at his
feet, as though an Offering to the
most noted singer on our side of the
globe. AS [ drew near he turned his
| clear, bright eye upon me, and sang
a welcome to North Carolina; and
| several hours later when the moon
| rose high over the waters Of the
Sound he completed his perfect per
| formance with a serenade."
| Farther along in her careful and
| sympathetic study of the mocking-
bird and his nesting habits, Mrs Mill
er says: 1.-The mOckinS- birds move
| mentS, excepting in flight are the
perfection of grace; not even the cal
| bird can rival him in airy lightness
in easy elegance of melton. IN alisht-
|
come down upon it; his maT41er Is
fairly pOetical He flies a little toe
high, drops like a feather, touches
the perch lightly with his feet. bal
ances and tOSseS upward his tall Of
ten quickly running over the tips of
half a dozen pickets before he rests
Passing across the yard, he turns not
| to avoid a taller tree or shrub nor
does he go through it: he simply
bounds over almost touching it, as il
for pure sport. In the matter OF
bounds the mockcr is without a peer
The upward spring while singing l.
an ecStatic action that must be seer
to be appreciated: he rises into the
air as if too happy to remain on eartt
and opening his wings, floats down
singing all the while. 1t is indesCrib
. able, but enchanting to see
The song Of the free mockinG
bird. With it ringing in my ear a
this moment, after having
: gloried in it day and night for man,
: weeks, how can l criticize it l
: is something for which one nigh
9 pine and long. as the SwitZer for tn
f PAM des-V acheS, and the more tn
, hears it the more one loves IL Ye
| "as an ilnitator'' Mrs Miller feels
o he is overrated. l cannot agree wit
I Lanier that
Y 'Whateer birds did or dreamed, thi
e bird could say"
{ "The song of every bird seems t
I NE the expression Of himself: il is
q perfect whole of its kind, given wit
s proper infectious and pauses, an
q never hurried: whereas when th
q mocker delivers it, it is simply on
5 more note aGded to his repertor,
n uttered in his rapid staccato, in hi
r loud, clear voice, interpOlated be
It tween fnconsruous sounds, withou
II expression, and lacking in every wa
t tie beauty and attraction of the orr
II sina..'
But his own song is brilliant, be
, wilderinS exhibition consisting eT
- | tirely OF short StaCcatO phrase
~ | each phrase repeated several time
= perhaps twice. possibly five or 81
;. times. If he has d list Of twenty {
y thirty-and l think ne has more-f
= can make almost unlimited change
~ and variety, and can sing for tw
hours or longer, holding his listener
y spel}bound and almost without COZ
> scieusness that he has repeated an,
a u thing"