The MIMIC THRUSH, or MOCKING BIRD (_Mimus polyglottus_), as the most
celebrated species has been called, is nine and a half inches long and
thirteen and a half broad; the plumage on the upper part of the body is
dark grey, shaded with brown upon the brow and side of the head; the
under side is brownish white; the quills and wing-covers are brownish
black, and the feet dark brown. The female is browner and darker than her
mate, and the white in the tail less pure. Both sexes are alike in size.
The United States of North America must be regarded as the native land
of this interesting bird, and from thence, as autumn approaches, it
wanders forth to visit the surrounding countries. (The Mocking Birds
of Louisiana, however, form an exception to this rule, as, owing to
the mildness of the climate, they often remain there throughout the
entire year.) This delightful songster generally frequents plantations,
gardens, and brushwood, and not only lives but breeds in the immediate
vicinity of man; it also prefers sandy plains, the banks of rivers,
and the neighbourhood of the sea-coast. On the ground its movements
resemble those of the True Thrush, but its flight is undulating, and
rarely sustained for any great distance, as the Mocking Bird from time
to time takes rest upon a tree before proceeding on its way; moreover,
as it flies, the tail is alternately expanded and closed. As regards the
wonderful powers of song that have rendered this species so famous, we
cannot do better than quote the words of Wilson:--"The intelligence he
displays in listening and laying up lessons from almost every species
of the feathered creation within his hearing is really surprising, and
marks the peculiarity of his genius. To his other endowments we may
add that of a voice full, strong, and musical, and capable of every
modulation, from the clear mellow tones of the Wood Thrush to the savage
scream of the Bald Eagle. While in measure and accent he faithfully
follows his originals, in force and sweetness of expression he greatly
improves upon them. In his native groves, mounted on the top of a tall
bush, or half-grown tree, in the dawn of dewy morning, when the woods
are already vocal with a multitude of warblers, his admirable song rises
pre-eminent over every competitor. The ear can listen to his music alone,
to which that of all others seems a mere accompaniment. Neither is his
strain altogether imitative. His own native notes, which are easily
distinguishable by such as are well acquainted with those of our various
song birds, are bold, full, and varied, seemingly beyond all limits.
They consist of short expressions of two, three, or at most five or six
syllables, generally interspersed with imitations, all of them uttered
with great emphasis and rapidity, and continued with undiminished ardour
for half an hour or an hour at a time. His expanded wings and tail,
glistening with white, and the buoyant gaiety of his action, arrest the
eye as his song most irresistibly does the ear; sometimes he sweeps round
with enthusiastic ecstasy, mounting and descending as his song swells
or dies away, and, as my friend Mr. Bartram has beautifully expressed
it, 'He bounds aloft with the celerity of an arrow, as if to recover or
recall is very soul expired in the last elevated strain.'
"While thus exerting himself, a bystander destitute of sight would
suppose that the whole feathered tribe had assembled together on a trial
of skill, each striving to produce his utmost effect, so perfect are his
imitations. He many times deceives the sportsman, and sends him in search
of birds that perhaps are not within miles of him, but whose notes he
exactly imitates; even birds themselves are frequently imposed on by this
admirable mimic, and are decoyed by the fancied calls of their mates; or
dive with precipitation into the depth of thickets, at a scream of what
they suppose to be the Sparrow Hawk."
As may readily be imagined, the sounds imitated by these remarkable birds
vary according to the situation in which they live; those that occupy
woodland districts naturally repeat the note uttered by their feathered
companions, whilst those near a farmyard learn not only to imitate the
cries of all its different inhabitants, but reproduce them so perfectly
as to deceive the nicest ear. Thus they have been known to summon the
house-dog, by whistling like his master; drive a hen to a state of the
utmost excitement, by constantly screaming out in such a manner as to
lead her to suppose that one of her chicks was in the last agonies; or
to scare away a whole flock of poultry by the perfection with which they
imitate the cry of one of the many tyrants of the air. The clapping of
a mill, a creaking door, the grating of a saw, or, indeed, any of the
multitudinous noises heard in a busy household, at once attract their
attention, and are simulated with such torturing exactness as often to
render the Mocking Bird, when caged, almost unbearable.
Amongst the many enemies to whose attacks this species is exposed, the
black snake is one of the most formidable, and frequent and terrible are
the battles that ensue between these apparently very unequal combatants.
"Whenever," says Wilson, "the insidious approaches of this reptile
are discovered, the male darts upon it with the rapidity of an arrow,
dexterously eluding its bite, and striking it violently and incessantly
about the head, where it is very vulnerable. The snake soon becomes
sensible of its danger, and seeks to escape; but the intrepid defender of
his young redoubles his exertions, and, unless his antagonist be of great
magnitude, often succeeds in destroying him. All its pretended powers of
fascination avail it nothing against the vengeance of this noble bird.
As the snake's strength begins to flag, the Mocking Bird seizes and
partially lifts it up from the ground, beating it with his wings; and
when the business is completed he returns to the repository of his young,
mounts the summit of the bush, and pours out a torrent of song in token
of victory."
In the southern provinces of the United States the breeding season
of this Thrush commences in April, whilst in the northern parts, on
the contrary, it does not begin till the end of May. Throughout the
whole of this period the male is extremely restless, and endeavours
to attract the attention of his mate by the ceaseless activity of his
movements, alternately strutting conceitedly about on the ground, with
tail expanded and drooping wings, or fluttering, butterfly-like, around
the spot on which she is perched, at the same time performing a series
of graceful evolutions in the air. The nest, which is formed of dry
twigs, tendrils, grass, and wool, thickly lined with delicate fibres, is
usually placed at the summit of trees or leafy shrubs, frequently close
to habitations, but occasionally also in low bushes and briary clumps
growing in comparatively unfrequented and uncultivated spots. Two and
sometimes three broods are produced in the year; the first containing
from four to six, the second at most five, and the third seldom more than
three eggs. These are round in shape, of a light green colour, variously
marked with dark brown. The young are hatched by the mother alone, and
usually leave the shell in about a fortnight. The two first families grow
rapidly, but they do not attain their full size until late in the year.
Audubon maintains that, should the parents be disturbed whilst tending
their young, they exhibit the greatest anxiety for their safety, and
redouble their care and attention. This opinion is, however, in direct
contradiction to the idea prevalent in America, that if the Mocking
Thrush be alarmed it at once deserts its progeny. During the summer this
species lives principally upon insects, which, unlike most Thrushes, it
often pursues to a considerable height in the air. In autumn it feeds
upon a great variety of berries. When caged it is readily reared upon the
food usually given to Thrushes, but should also receive an occasional
meal of ants' eggs or meal-worms. Upon this diet it will not only live
for a considerable time and become extremely tame, but lay its eggs
regularly from year to year.