. American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States [microform]. Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813; Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813; Birds; Oiseaux. 170 MOCKING his tail, and throws himself around the ca^e in all tho ecstasy of enthusiasm, seeming not only to sing, hut to dance, keeping time to the measure of his own music. Both in his native and domesticated state, during the solemn stillness of night, as soon as the moon rises in silent majesty, he begins^'liis delightful solo, and serenades us the livelong night with a full display of his vocal powers, making th
. American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States [microform]. Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813; Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813; Birds; Oiseaux. 170 MOCKING his tail, and throws himself around the ca^e in all tho ecstasy of enthusiasm, seeming not only to sing, hut to dance, keeping time to the measure of his own music. Both in his native and domesticated state, during the solemn stillness of night, as soon as the moon rises in silent majesty, he begins^'liis delightful solo, and serenades us the livelong night with a full display of his vocal powers, making the whole neighbour- hood ring with his inimitable medley.* Were it not to seem invidious in the eyes of foreigners, I might in this place, make a comparative statement between the powers of the mocking bird and the only bird, I believe, in the world, woithy of being compared with him,—the European nightingale. This, however, I am unable to do from my own observation, having never myself heard the song of the latter; and, even if I had, perhaps something might be laid to the score of partiality, which, as a faithful biographer, I am anxious to avoid. I shall, therefore, present the reader with the opinion of a distinguished English naturalist and curious observer on this subject, the Honourable Daines Barrington, who, at the time he made the communication, was Vice-president of the Royal Society, to which it was " It may not be improper here," says this gentleman, " to • The hunters in the southern States, when setting out upon an excursion by night, as soon as they hear the mocking bird bcin to sing, know that the moon is rising. ° A certain anonymous author, speaking of the mocking birds in the island of Jamaica, and their practice of singing by moonlight, thus gravely philosophises, and attempts to account for the habit " It is not certain," says he, "whether they are kept so wakeful by the clear- ness of the light, or by any extr
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