Question about the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

Question

This is a quote taken directly, word-for-word, from the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2963/mockingbirdxh6.png

I just finished reading the book, and I must say, it was a masterpiece! One thing I'm still confused on, however, is what exactly the mockingbird in the above passage symbolized. What does it represent? What's it's meaning? Please, only answer if you've actually read the novel.

Answer 1

why did he put tiny bits of newspaper in the tree