Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 253, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1913 — THE MOCKING BIRD BEATS ORIGINAL IN ITS OWN SONG [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE MOCKING BIRD BEATS ORIGINAL IN ITS OWN SONG

The newcomer in the south is likely to be surprised some morning by hearing a number of birds, not usually on the best of terms, confabbing comfortably together in some nearby tree top. Interested in this sudden burying of the -hatchet, he will search out the friendly group, only to find it made up of a solitary Individual; this one, however, as much in earnest about things in general he were the whole anticipated dozen. The mocking bird’s powers of imitation have been much commented upon, but can hardly be exaggerated. One has been observed to mimic fourteen different birds in the course of half an hour, each so perfectly that it was hard to believe the medley of sounds proceeded from a single throat. The only perceptible difference in the real song and the imitation is that the mocking bird’B note is usually more full and round than the original. It is perfect in Inflection, however, and

•Ten in the little "quips and turns” that characterise the mimicked tones. The bird's own song is one of the richest and roundest possible, and is not much improved by being interrupted, as it often is, by the unmusical squawk of the Jay, or the complaining whine of the catbird. An odd little musical duel was observed one day between a mocking bird and a robin. The robin, perched In a rose bush, had hardly begun his rich, full-throated solo when the notes were literally "taken out of his mouth” by the mocking-bird, which had alighted in a cherry tree near by, apparently

By L. M. BENNINGTON.

for that express purpose. Again and again the robin began, only to be interrupted after the first few notes by the saucy usurper, who finished the whole song each time, ending with a little triumphant flourish, as much as to say: “You see I can beat you at your own tune!” The annoyed red-breast,"astonished and resentful, at length flew a little farther away, and began again. This time, however, he brought down upon himself a torrent of musical revenge, including nearly every bird song in the catalogue, and ending up with « series of derisive cackles, like nothing so much as the cries of a disturbed sitting hen. Thoroughly disgusted by this outpouring, Mr. Robin gave it up as a bad job and flew away. The mocking bird is one of the boldest of the feathered tribe. Even the impudent sparrow has s a wholesome fear of him, and is pretty careful about building where he is in the

habit of making his own nest During the brooding Beason he is unusually aggressive. A dog. which was caught sniffing about unwarily under a tree where a mocking bird’s family was being reared, was put to sudden and ignominious rout by the onslaught of the angry male bird. Prowling cats find it better to keep at a safe distance, and there are few winged depredators that would enjoy a bout with an enraged mocking bird. \ ’ As a consequence the nests arq found quite near the ground, the bird trusting to its own prowess for protection.

"Way Down South in the Land of Cotton."