MOCKING-BIRD. 043 



approach to a state of nature will be the 

 surest means of success. 



The birds, if fed every other day with 

 a little of the mixture prescribed for the 

 Canary in a like situation, or on hard- 

 boiled eggs, with a little chopped raw 

 beef, and insects, when they can be ob- 

 tained, will soon commence building^ 



When they are breeding they must be 

 as little disturbed as possible; their food 

 and water being placed in their room 

 through a door in the side, without the 

 tender being seen, and all persons kept 

 away from their vicinity. 



When the young are hatched, the old 

 birds may have a paste composed of milk 

 and Indian-meal, for the purpose of feed- 

 ing their progeny; and as the latter ad- 

 vance in growth they should be supplied 

 with a profusion of berries of different 

 kinds. 



The female always lays five eggs, which 

 must never be touched during the opera- 



