274 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
food, so that he may come and go, and if his heart leads 
him back towards his southern birthplace, be sure that 
he will join the flock of some of his northern kindred 
and in their company reach home.’’ 
“Do we have any kind of Mockingbird up here?” 
asked Tommy, his eyes opening in wonder. 
“Not real brothers of the Mockingbird, though he has 
half a dozen in the southwestern part of the country, 
but two first cousins, and half a dozen second cousins. 
Let us take the Mocker up to the playroom and hang 
his cage in the warm window by the chimney, where 
the sun will shine on him whenever the clouds let it peep 
through. Then I will tell you all who his cousins are, 
and about three other American birds that for many 
years were caught and kept prisoners in cages and sold 
out of their native land.” 
* * * * * * * 
The children were all gathered upstairs by the time 
Gray Lady arrived, followed by Tommy, carrying the 
cage. 
“T had a Robin in a cage, once, and a Catbird, and 
grandma and Aunt Mary always have Canaries. Why 
is it against the law to keep wild birds in cages? That 
Mockingbird doesn’t seem to mind it a bit; now that 
he’s smoothed down his feathers, and has begun to eat, 
he acts real happy,” said Eliza Clausen, after they had 
looked at the newcomer and heard the story of his being 
sent to Gray Lady. 
“There are two reasons why wild birds should never 
be kept in cages except for really scientific study, or 
