THE MANAKIN'S SONG.

Pipra Musica.-(LINN.)

I would sing with much pleasure, but oh! its so shocking, The instant I open my bill and begin,

That insolent bird, which some call, I think, MOCKING, Repeats all my notes in unmannerly din.

Already you hear him! I can't go on singing:

You, I know, will excuse me: indeed I'm unwell. Whoe'er can endure, for a moment, such ringing Of changes?—his voice is just like a crack'd bell. Alas! he'll not suffer me even to utter

Be

A word of complaint! I beseech you to hear: my notes high or low, or a warble, a mutter, Be they loud, be they soft, be they distant or near.

What then is this MOCKERY? weapon of WITLINGS, To whom WISDOM and TRUTH are both often un. known?

Who, in order to shine like some little Tomtitlings, Sport the bright thoughts of others, and call them their own. (64)

(64) ORDER, PASSERES, (Linn.) MANAKIN, the TUNEFUL, the Rock.

The genus PIPRA, (Linn.) or MANAKIN, comprehends more than forty species, inhabitants of the warm climates of Asia, Africa, and America; they have the bill shorter than the head, strong, hard, nearly triangular at the base, and slightly incurved

THE MOCKING-BIRD'S SONG.

Turdus Polyglottus.—(LINN.)

I now sing with much pleasure, my notes never shocking; Know ye not that, before I look round and begin, I'm that musical bird, which some choose to call MOCKING,

And my notes oft respond in melodious din.

Already you hear me ! I must go on singing:

1

You, I know, will excuse me; I'll try to sing well: You all will be pleas'd, I doubt not, with my ringing Of changes, much better than those on a bell.

Delightful! permit me my feelings to utter;

Not a word of complaint shall you now from me heart Be my notes low or high, or but merely a mutter; Be they soft, be they loud, or far distant, or near.

Then welcome, dear MOCKERY! charmer of WITLINGS, To whom WIT, if not wisdom, hath long time been

known;

Who, to shine like bright stars, not as silly Tomtitlings, Sport of others the thoughts much improv'd by their

own.

at the tip; nostrils naked; feet gressorial; tail short. The following are the chief:

The Musica, or TUNEFUL-MANAKIN, is black, beneath orange; front and rump yellow; crown and nape blue; chin, throat,

and legs, black; four inches long; inhabits St. Domingo; is very shy, and easily eludes the vigilance of those who attempt to take it, by perpetually skipping, like the creeper, to the opposite branches of the tree: its note is musical, and forms a complete octave, one note regularly succeeding another.

The Rupicola, Rock or CRESTED-MANAKIN, Cock-of-the-Rock, or Hoopoe Hen, is a showy and elegant bird; the crest is erect, very large for the size of the animal, and edged with purple ; bill yellowish; body bright, reddish orange, varied in the wings with white and brown; legs yellow, size of a pigeon; length from ten to twelve inches; eggs two, white; builds in the clefts of remotest rocks; shy, but may be tamed if taken young; feeds on small wild fruit. Female and young birds brown; inhabits the rocky parts of South America.

The Manucus, or BLACK-CAPPED-MANAKIN, is black above, beneath white; spot on the neck, above, and on the wings, white; bill black, legs yellow; it is a restless bird; gregarious; and inhabits the woods of Guiana.

The Minuta, or LITTLE-MANAKIN, is grey; head black, speckled with white; size of a small wren; inhabits India.

For an account of the MOCKING-BIRD, see page 373; but it may be stated here that its day-song consists generally of the imitations of the notes of other birds; its night-song, (see forward,) is its own.

THE ORIOLE'S SONG.

Oriolus Nidipendulus.—(LINN.)

"HE who'd live a happy life, Let him live as we;

We defy both care and strife,

Are from sorrow free."

THE LARK'S SONG.

You may sing of your dells,

Of your groves and your trees,

Of your vallies and fells,

Of your cool mountain breeze:

You may prattle to solitude
All the day long;

And let none but the wood

Hear your voice or your song:

You may sing of the sorrow

Of love-dying swain;

Or of maidens who sigh

For their charmers in vain :

You may sing of Savannahs,
And swamps, and the fall
Of the fam'd Niagara ;-
Sublime may it call.

Give me a rich field

Heavy laden with corn,
Just before its consign'd

To the planter's strong barn.

Give me too,-its the zest
Of the Oriole's life,-
A crowd of companions
Without care or strife.

Be monkish who may,
I no monk e'er will be;
I like jolly fellows

Around me to see.

(65) Order, PICÆ, (Linn.) Hangnest-Oriole. The Oriolus nidipendulus, HANG NEST-ORIOLE, SpanishNightingale, Watchy-Picket, or American-Hangnest, has the frontlet and wreath black; crown, neck, back, and tail, reddish brown; breast and belly tawny yellow; length seven inches; sings charmingly; builds a pendulous nest on the extreme branches of a high tree; inhabits the woods of Jamaica, and, most probably, many other of the West India islands.

For an account of other Orioles, see note (32).