guished English naturalist, and curious observer, on this subject, the Hon. Daines Barrington, who at the time he made the communication was vice president of the Royal Society, to which they were addressed.* "It may not be improper, here," says this gentleman, "to "consider whether the Nightingale may not have a very formida"ble competitor in the American Mocking-bird; though almost "all travellers agree, that the concert in the European woods "is superior to that of the other parts of the globe. I have hap"pened, however, to hear the American Mocking-bird, in great "perfection, at Messrs. Vogels and Scotts, in Love-lane, East"cheap. This bird is believed to be still living, and hath been "in England these six years. During the space of a minute he "imitated the Wood-lark, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Thrush, and "Sparrow; I was told also that he would bark like a dog; so that "the bird seems to have no choice in his imitations, though his "pipe comes nearest to our Nightingale of any bird I have yet "met with. With regard to the original notes, however, of this "bird, we are still at a loss, as this can only be known by those "who are accurately acquainted with the song of the other Ame"rican birds. Kalm indeed informs us, that the natural song is "excellent;t but this traveller seems not to have been long enough "in America to have distinguished what were the genuine notes: "with us mimics do not often succeed but in imitations. I have "little doubt, however, but that this bird would be fully equal "to the song of the Nightingale in its whole compass; but then "from the attention which the Mocker pays to any other sort "of disagreeable noise, these capital notes would be always de"based by a bad mixture." On this extract I shall make a few remarks. If, as is here conceded, the Mocking-bird be fully equal to the song of the Nightingale; and, as I can with confidence add, not only to that but to the song of almost every other bird; besides being capable of exactly imitating various other sounds and voices of animals, his vocal powers are unquestionably superior to those of the NightPhil. Trans, vol. LXII, part II, p. 284. Travels, vol 1, p. 219. ingale, which posseses its own native notes alone. Further; if we consider, as is asserted by Mr. Barrington, that "one reason of "the Nightingale's being more attended to than others is, that "it sings in the night;" and if we believe with Shakspeare, that "The Nightingale, if she should sing by day When every goose is cackling, would be thought what must we think of that bird, who in the glare of day, when a multitude of songsters are straining their throats in melody, overpowers all competition; and by the superiority of his voice, expression and action, not only attacts every ear, but frequently strikes dumb his mortified rivals;-when the silence of night as well as the bustle of day, bear witness to his melody; and when even in captivity, in a foreign country, he is declared by the best judges in that country, to be fully equal to the song of their sweetest bird in its whole compass? The supposed degradation of his song by the introduction of extraneous sounds, and unexpected imitations, is, in fact, one of the chief excellencies of this bird; as these changes give a perpetual novelty to his strain, keep attention constantly awake, and impress every hearer with a deeper interest in what is to follow. In short, if we believe in the truth of that mathematical axiom, that the whole is greater than a part, all that is excellent or delightful, amusing or striking, in the music of birds, must belong to that admirable songster, whose vocal powers are equal to the whole compass of their whole strains. The native notes of the Mocking-bird have considerable resemblance to those of the Brown Thrush, but may easily be distinguished by their greater rapidity, sweetness, energy of expression and variety. Both, however, have in many parts of the United States, particularly in those to the south, obtained the name of Mocking-bird. The first, or Brown Thrush, from its inferiority of song being called the French, and the other the English Mocking-bird. A mode of expression probably originat ing in the prejudices of our forefathers; with whom every thing French was inferior to every thing English.* The Mocking-bird is frequently taken in trap-cages, and by proper management may be made sufficiently tame to sing. The upper parts of the cage (which ought to be of wood) should be kept covered, until the bird becomes a little more reconciled to confinement. If placed in a wire cage, uncovered, he will soon destroy himself in attempting to get out. These birds, however, by proper treatment may be brought to sing perhaps superior to those raised by hand, and cost less trouble. The opinion which the naturalists of Europe entertain of the great difficulty of raising the Mocking-bird, and, that not one in ten survives, is very incorrect. A person called on me a few days ago, with twenty-nine of these birds, old and young, which he had carried about the fields with him for several days, for the convenience of feeding them while engaged in trapping others. He had carried them thirty miles, and intended carrying them ninety-six miles farther, viz. to New York; and told me, that he did not expect to lose one out of ten of them. Cleanliness, and regularity in feeding, are the two principal things to be attended to, and these rarely fail to succeed. The eagerness with which the nest of the Mocking-bird is sought after in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, has rendered this bird extremely scarce for an extent of several miles around the city. In the country round Wilmington and Newcastle, they are very numerous, from whence they are frequently brought here for sale. The usual price of a singing bird is from seven to fifteen, and even twenty dollars. I have known fifty dollars paid for a remarkable fine singer; and one instance where one hundred dollars were refused for a still more extraordinary one. Attempts have been made to induce these charming birds to pair, and rear their young in a state of confinement, and the result The observations of Mr. Barrington, in the paper above referred to, make this supposition still more probable. "Some Nightingales," says he, "are so vastly inferior, that the bird-catchers will not keep them, branding them with the name of Frenchmen." p. 283. has been such as to prove it, by proper management, perfectly practicable. In the spring of 1808, a Mr. Klein, living in North Seventh street, Philadelphia, partitioned off about twelve feet square in the third story of his house. This was lighted by a pretty large wire-grated window. In the centre of this small room he planted a cedar bush, five or six feet high, in a box of earth; and scattered about a sufficient quantity of materials suitable for building. Into this place a male and female Mockingbird were put, and soon began to build. The female laid five eggs, all of which she hatched, and fed the young with great affection until they were nearly able to fly. Business calling the proprietor from home, for two weeks, he left the birds to the care of his domestics; and on his return found, to his great regret, that they had been neglected in food. The young ones were all dead, and the parents themselves nearly famished. The same pair have again commenced building this season, in the same place, and have at this time, July 4, three young likely to do well. The place might be fitted up with various kinds of shrubbery, so as to resemble their native thickets; and ought to be as remote from noise and interruption of company as possible, and strangers rarely allowed to disturb or even approach them. The Mocking-bird is nine and a half inches long, and thirteen in breadth. Some individuals are, however, larger, and some smaller, those of the first hatch being uniformly the bigest and stoutest.* The upper parts of the head, neck and back, are a dark, brownish ash; and when new moulted, a fine light gray; the wings and tail are nearly black, the first and second rows of coverts tipt with white; the primary coverts, in some males, are wholly white, in others tinged with brown. The three first primaries are white from their roots as far as their coverts; the white on the next six extends from an inch to one and three-fourths father down, descending equally on both sides of the feather; Many people are of opinion that there are two sorts, the large and the small Mocking-bird; but after examining great numbers of these birds in various regions of the United States, I am satisfied that this variation of size is merely accidental, or owing to the circumstance above mentioned. the tail is cuneiform, the two exterior feathers wholly white, the rest, except the middle ones, tipt with white; the chin is white; sides of the neck, breast, belly and vent a brownish white, much purer in wild birds than in those that have been domesticated; iris of the eye yellowish cream coloured, inclining to golden; bill black, the base of the lower mandible whitish; legs and feet black, and strong. The female very much resembles the male; what difference there is has been already pointed out in a preceding part of this account. The breast of the young bird is spotted like that of the Thrush. Mr. William Bartram observes of the Mocking-bird, that "formerly, say thirty or forty years ago, they were numerous, "and often staid all winter with us, or the year through, feed❝ing on the berries of ivy, smilax, grapes, persimmons, and "other berries. The ivy (Hedera helex) they were particularly "fond of, though a native of Europe. We have an ancient plant "adhering to the wall of the house, covering many yards of "surface; this vine is very fruitful, and here many would feed "and lodge during the winter, and in very severe cold weather "sit on the top of the chimney to warm themselves." He also adds, "I have observed that the Mocking-bird ejects from his "stomach through his mouth the hard kernels of berries, such "as smilax, grapes, &c. retaining the pulpy part."* *Letter from Mr. Bartram to the author. VOL. II.-0 |