THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY 35 
fornia. He is a beautiful and graceful fellow in 
gray, with large white patches in his wings. 
The nest of the mockingbird is a rather rough 
affair, built in a low tree or a bush. One that I 
saw was in a tree about as high as an apple-tree. 
The bird gets his food on the ground, and has a 
curious habit of lifting his wings as he is about 
to attack a beetle. 
The mockingbird is a celebrated singer. Many 
persons think him the finest m America. He 
is especially famous for repeating the notes of 
other birds; but he can imitate other sounds, 
such as a policeman’s rattle, a postman’s whistle, 
and almost anything else. Sometimes a caged 
one makes mischief by this accomplishment. He 
has no need to borrow, for he has a fine song of 
his own. 
Besides being famous in this way, he is a very 
knowing bird, and a most interesting one to 
study. The young mocker is a spirited fellow, 
who can’t endure to stay in the nest till his wings 
are strong enough to bear him. He usually tries 
to fly too soon, and so comes to the ground. 
Coming to the ground is a great misfortune to 
the bird, for he is easily caught and put in a 
cage. | 
Being fine singers, mockingbirds are often 
kept in cages. In the late summer, the bird 
