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330  HABITS  OF  BIRDS.
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  the  scream  of  what  they
suppose  to  be  the  sparrow-hawk.
"  The  mocking-bird  loses  little  of  the  power  and
energy  of  his  song  by  confinement.  In  his  domesti-
cated state,  when  he  commences  his  career  of  song,  it
is  impossible  to  stand  by  uninterested.  He  whistles
for  the  dog ;  Ca?sar  starts  up,  wags  his  tail,  and
runs  to  meet  his  master.  He  squeaks  out  like  a  hurt
chicken,  and  the  hen  hurries  about  with  hanging
wings,  and  bristled  feathers,  clucking  to  protect  its
injured  brood.  The  barking  of  the  dog,  the  mewing
of  the  cat,  the  creaking  of  a  passing  wheelbarrow,
follow  with  great  truth  and  rapidity.  He  repeats
the  tune  taught  him  by  his  master,  though  of  con-
siderable length,  fully  and  faithfully.  He  runs  over
the  quaverings  of  the  canary,  and  the  clear  whistlings
of  the  Virginia  nightingale,  or  red-bird,  with  such
superior  execution  and  effect,  that  the  mortified
songsters  feel  their  own  inferiority,  and  become
altogether  silent;  while  he  seems  to  triumph  in  their
defeat  by  redoubling  his  exertions.
