THE MOCKING-BIRD. 91 



Mocking-birds are fond of crickets' claws. They 

 are also fond of lizards' tails. Indeed, lizards 

 grow several new tails during the summer on 

 purpose for the mockers to eat. Lizard is chased 

 by a bird, and runs under the nearest log, forget- 

 ting to take his tail in after him. The tip of that 

 nice tail just sticking from under the log is all 

 the cunning bird was after, anyway, and off it 

 goes into its beak. Not that mocker pulls it off. 

 O no! The lizard lets go of its tail when it feels 

 a pinch, as if to say, "Take it if you want it." 

 Lizard does n't mind the loss, and in the course 

 of a month his new tail-tip will be ready for 

 another supper for the mocker or the robin. 



Our little friend from San Diego writes that the 

 mockers watch for the new milk to be brought in 

 at night, arid he sets a cupful up on a post for 

 them. They drink it with as much relish as a 

 kitten. We have also fed them milk, but they 

 like it best with sugar in it. All the birds we 

 feed have a " sweet tooth." The way to any bird's 

 heart is by his little stomach, and any child or 

 person may have the mockers near the house if 

 they will but feed them well. To be sure, our 

 mocking-birds are not seen around San Francisco 

 Bay, for reasons of their own, which we do not 

 understand. Birds are much like people who 



