86 WESTERN SERIES OP READERS. 



very sore back, concluded it was no match for the 

 mockers, and was satisfied to lick its milk under 

 the kitchen-table with just a glance out of doors. 



You will notice that most dogs run in a cow- 

 ardly fashion from a mocker, as if four feet and a 

 wide-open mouth were no match for a pair of 

 wings and a beak that can close very suddenly 

 over a pinch of hair. 



We have had our own hair pulled many a time 

 by the mockers, and it hurts. The birds have a 

 way of slipping up from behind one, giving the 

 hair a tweak, and dodging out of reach. They 

 never do attack an intruder from before. 



Perhaps it is on account of their watchfulness 

 about the grounds, that other birds put up with 

 so much scolding from the mockers. They seem 

 to love their company, and are sure to nest in any 

 garden where the mockers live. The young of 

 other birds are not molested nor scolded by the 

 mockers, even in their Grossest moods, and for 

 this reason, if for no other, we love them. To be 

 sure, if a linnet brings her young ones to the 

 garden-table before mother mocker has fed her 

 own little ones as much gingerbread as they can 

 swallow, mocker says, "Go away!" in pretty loud 

 tones. But she never harms her neighbors' chil- 

 dren. 



