THE MOCKING BIRD. 61

top of a tall bush, or half-grown tree, in
the dawn of a dewy morning, while the
woods are vocal with a multitude of war-
blers, his song rises above every compe-
titor. The ear can listen to his music
alone, to which that of all the others
seem merely an accompaniment. Neither —
is this strain altogether imitative; his
own native notes, which are easily dis-
tinguishable by such as are acquainted
with those of our various song birds, are
bold and full, and varied beyond all limits.
They consist of short expressions of two,
three, or, at the most, of five or six sylla-
bles, generally interspersed with imita-
tions, and all of them uttered with great
emphasis and rapidity, and continued for
an hour at a time. ~