AMERICAN THRUSHES. 15 



young kitten in distress. He is not at all suspi- 

 cious or afraid of you ; and on your nearer ap- 

 proach will hasten to occupy a more conspicuous 

 situation in the bush, and jerking up his tail, sa- 

 lute you with his favorite call. He is truly a 

 mocking bird, endeavoring to imitate every bird 

 he hears. Industrious and persevering, he will 

 repeat his imitations over and over again. 

 But unfortunately he is deficient in clearness and 

 strength of voice, and therefore fails in many of 

 his imitations. I have often listened to him with 

 great pleasure, while probably perched over my 

 head on some sapling, trying hard to imitate 

 every bird he heard, and seeming at times to 

 get quite excited when he failed in doing so to 

 his satisfaction. He is, however, no contemptible 

 songster, and has some natural notes, which he 

 sings very sweetly in the cage. 



FOOD. I have kept them in good health on 

 meal and milk, a little bruised hempseed, and a 

 bit of beef, occasionally scraped, as for the Mock- 

 ing bird. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEXES. The male 

 may be distinguished from the female, by the 

 red under the tail being brighter on the male. 

 Otherwise they are very much alike. 



