THE MOCKING BIRD 97 



shine, for like most wild creatures that have grown to 

 maturity in the free air, he could never be taught to live in 

 captivity. 



A friend of mine once picked up a young mocking bird 

 which had been injured and kindly cared for it. She 

 placed it in a cage and fed it for a time with ripe berries 

 and a mixture of boiled egg and potato. Later when it was 

 able to fly it was given its liberty. Instead of leaving, it 

 followed her about the house, hopping and flying along 

 the floor. It would light on her arm and feed from her 

 hand. If she was out of its sight for an hour it would be- 

 come uneasy, and entering. the house by door or window, 

 would seek her from room to room, chirping loudly in dis- 

 tressed tones. For many weeks the bird remained about 

 the house and lawn, and would come when called by his 

 mistress. 



Unfortunately for their preservation, mocking birds 

 when taken while young will, with proper care, thrive in 

 captivity. This power of adaptability to cage life is 

 proving its destruction. Thousands of young are collected 

 each year and placed in cages. Of the small per cent of 

 these captives which survive the first few months of their 

 imprisonment, numbers are shipped to Northern cities and 

 sold. In many communities mocking birds are rapidly 

 becoming exterminated, owing to the treatment which they 



