THE MOCKING BIRD. 73 



spreads over a less number of the feathers, 

 and extends a much greater distance on the 

 broad than on the narrow side of each. The 

 wings, besides, are incHned to brown, which, 

 in the male, are black. 



The best food for the young, until able to 

 take care of themselves, is raw meat, which 

 shall be either beef, mutton, lamb, or veal, 

 never pork, without any fat, and be chopped, 

 or minced fine, and soaked in fresh, sweet 

 milk. This is the most nutritious nourish- 

 ment they could receive, as it approximates 

 most closely to that which they would ob- 

 tain from the parent birds, insects of various 

 descriptions. Besides this, Indian meal, 

 scalded and mixed to a not very stiff paste, 

 with sweet milk, or water, is an excellent 

 addition, and must be fed to them daily. 



When the birds have arrived at a proper 

 age, and can feed without assistance, the 

 same food may be continued for a month, or 

 six weeks, supplying them also, with all the 

 different kinds of berries, as they alternately 

 arrive in season. They must have cherries, 

 strawberries, and whortle, or huckleberries, 

 &c., during the summer time ; in the auturon, 

 those of the poke, alder, dogwood, and sour- 

 gum, all of which are readily found in the 

 vicinity of the city ; and during winter, those 

 of the poke and red cedar, which are dried 

 for the purpose. At this latter time, they may 

 be fed with a few soaked currants, raisins, 

 and slices of mellow fruits, such as apples, 

 pears, and peaches. They will, likewise, 

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