ll it was. The grove was the audience room where one might be in the
shade and not too conspicuous in watching him. His chosen place was in
the sunshine, for this bird is a sun-worshiper. I always found him
singing when I reached the spot. Perhaps on the top spike of a young
pine-tree, balanced on one, or sometimes on two adjoining top
twigs--which of course stand straight up--stood the singer, madly
shouting his most peculiar medley. He looked at me as I passed near his
perch, but did not pause in his song. After I had taken my seat he
flew--singing as he went--alighted nearer, on the upper sprig of a
cedar, turned his eyes upon me, and treated me to another performance,
while I looked and listened enchanted.

Nor was I the only listener. Ever and anon while absorbed in the
entertainment, or waiting, breathless, for a new note, I was startled by
a rustle, and a low "Good evenin' Missis," and glanced up to see a negro
stealing along in a stealthy way. It might be a woman with a big bundle
or basket on her head, possibly a slouching young man or "boy" with an
air of interest in my eccentric proceedings, or a group of youngsters
with nothing particular to do, but one and all perfectly silent in
movement. No wonder they know all about the birds, and lay violent hands
on eggs, nests, or nestlings as they choose, creeping around as they do
without a sound. It is only surprising that a bird is left in the State,
so persistently do they rob the nests. Naturally the mocking-bird, for
which they can always find purchasers, is the most desirable, and white
as well as black persecute that bird unceasingly.

"You can't keep them from the negroes," said a young white man. "I've
often been watching a nest to get the young ones myself, but some nig
was sure to take it before me."

Speaking of negroes, I never saw so many idle men and grown boys. Not a
spot could be found so secluded that one or more did not soon make his
appearance. Selecting the quiet yard of a summer cottage, a
deserted-looking place not yet opened for the season, in which to study
the ways of the birds in peace, I was often disturbed by a negro passing
across the lawn, taking no heed of fences, for there's no sort of a
fence in that country that they will not pass over as if it were not
there. Of course this always put to flight the dramatis personae of my
study. One day an interesting (or interested) person of color appeared
on the scene equipped for white-washi