of a too sudden transition from almost constant exertion to a state of long repose. One hundred guineas to one, and indeed, any odds whatever were offered on Wednesday morning; but so strong was the confidence in his success that no bets could be obtained. The multitude of people who resorted to the scene of action in the course of the concluding days, was unprecedented. Not a bed could be procured on Tuesday night, at Newmarket, Cambridge, or any of the towns and villages in the vicinity, and every horse and vehicle were engaged. Among the nobility and gentry who witnessed, on Wedresday, the conclusion of this extraordinary feat, were the Dukes of Argyle and St. Alban's ; Earls Grosvenor, Besborough and Jersey; Lord's Foley and Somerville; Sir John Lade, Sir F. Standish, &c. &c. Captain Barclay had 16,000l. depending upon his undertaking. The aggregate of the bets is supposed to amount to 1Q0,0007.

Surgeon Sandivor, a professional gentleman of eminence at Newmarket, who had carefully observed him since the commencement of his laborious task, was confident that he could have held out a fortnight longer!!

For a perfect knowledge of the Art of Self Defence, as an amateur, Captain Barclay, at one period, might be said to have no competitor. His set-tos with the late Game Chicken, Jem Belcher, and also with the Champion of

England, Shaw, &c. &c. sufficiently proved his great strength, skill, and courage. "Light play" was not one of the traits of the Captain; he spared no one, when in combat, and, brave man like, he never expected any thing by way of "deference to his rank" from his opponent. Upon the whole, Captain Barclay must be viewed as a most extraordinary man; and shows the extent of vigour that the human frame derives from exercise.

THE MOCKING BIRD OF AMERICA.

The plumage of the Mocking-bird, though none of the homeliest, has nothing gaudy or brilliant in it; and had he nothing else to recommend him, would scarcely entitle him to notice; but his figure is well-proportioned, and even handsome. The ease, elegance, and rapidity of his movements the animation of his eye, and the intelligence he displays in listening, and laying up lessons from almost every species of the feathered creation within his hearing, are really surprising, and mark the peculiarity of his genius. To these qualities we may add that of a voice, full, strong, and musical, and capable of almost every modulation, from the clear mellow tones of the wood thrush to the

savage scream of the bald eagle. In the mea- sure and accent, he faithfully follows his originals. In force and sweetness of expression he greatly improves upon them.. In bis native

groves, mounted on the top of a tall bush, or halfgrown tree, in the dawn of dewy morning, while the woods are already vocal with a multitude of warblers, his admirable song rises preeminent over every competitor. The ear can listen to his music alone, to which that of the others seems a mere accompaniment. Neither is this strain altogether imitative. His own native notes, which are easily distinguishable by such as are well acquainted with those of our various song birds, are bold and full, and varied seemingly beyond all limits. They consist of short expressions of two, three, or, at the most, five or six syllables, generally interspersed with imitations, and all of them uttered with great emphasis and rapidity, and continued, with undiminished ardour, for half an hour or an hour at a time. His expanded wings and tail glittering with white, and the buoyant gaiety of his action arresting the eye, as his song most irresistibly does the ear, he sweeps round with enthusiastic ecstacy-he mounts and descends as his song swells or dies away; which has thus been beautifully expressed. "He bounds aloft with the celerity of an arrow, as if to recover or recall his very soul, expired in the last elevated strain." While exerting himself, a by-stander, destitute of sight, would suppose that the whole feathered tribe had assembled together on a trial of skill, each striving to produce his utmost effect, so perfect are his imitations. He many times 3

VOL. I.

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 mate, or dive, with precipitation, into the depth of thickets, at the scream of what they suppose to be the sparrowhawk.

The mocking-bird loses little of the power and energy of his song by confinement. In his domesticated state, when he commences his career of song, it is impossible to stand by uninterested. He whistles for the dog; Cæsar 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 her injured brood. The barking of the dog, the mewing of the cat, the creaking of a passing wheelbarrow, are followed with great truth and rapidity. He repeats the tune taught him by his master, though of considerable length, fully and faithfully. He runs over the quiverings 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.

This excessive fondness for variety, however, in the opinion of some, injures his song. His

elevated imitations of the brown-thrush are frequently interrupted by the crowing of cocks; and the warblings of the blue-bird, which he exquisitely manages, are mingled with the screamings of swallows, or the cackling of hens: amidst the simple melody of the robin, we are suddenly surprised by the shrill reiterations of the whip-poor-will; while the notes of the killdeer, blue-jay, martin, and twenty others, sucIceed with such imposing reality, that we look round for the originals, and discover with astonishment, that the sole performer in this singular concert is the admirable bird now before us. During this exhibition of his powers, he spreads his wings, expands his tail, and throws himself around the cage in all the ecstacy of enthusiasm, seeming not only to sing, but to dance, keeping time to the measure of his music. Both in his native and domesticated state, during the solemn stilness of night, as soon as the moon rises in silent majesty, he begins his delightful solo; and serenades us the livelong night with a full display of his vocal powers, making the whole neighbourhood ring with his inimitable medley.

BIRD of wonder! nature's darling!
Little vocal prodigy!

Blackbird, linnet, thrush, or starling,
All in turn must yield to thee.

Happy mimic! nought can 'scape thec
Dog or cat thou can'st deceive;