82 MOCKING-BIRD FOOD. 



katydid, the mellow whistle of the cardinal, the 

 grunt of the maternal porker searching for her 

 juveniles, the creaking of some rusty swing-sign- 

 board, the pipe of the canary, and the cry of some 

 lost puppy wailing in the midnight air, and each 

 succeeding the other with such rapidity, that the 

 listener wonders if such a variety can come from 

 so small an object. All this the mocking-bird is 

 capable of. The mocking-bird is a general favorite, 

 and deserves to be attentively cared for. He is 

 particular, and should be fed and watered at the 

 same time every day. His cage should be large, and 

 kept very clean, with plenty of gravel. His food 

 should be 



Reiche's prepared Mocking-Bird Food. — All 

 other mocking-bird foods are only worthless imita- 

 tions of this, and, in many cases, have been found 

 to be very injurious to the bird. It is in bottles all 

 ready for use. In boxes, it will need the addition 

 of grated carrot. The box food is the cheapest and 

 best. A good way is to change every few weeks 

 from one to the other. An addition of ants' eggs 

 occasionally with their food (Chas. Reiche & Bro. 

 are the only importers of them) is very beneficial ; 

 a little sweet apple grated up with the food gives 

 it a very fine flavor, and often restores the appetite 

 when it seems quite poor. 



A Supply of Insects should be gathered during 

 the proper season, such as flies, grasshoppers, spi- 

 ders, &c., and put loosely in a paper bag, and hung 

 up to dry ; and, when used in winter, they should 



