MOCKING-BIRD. 97 



flag the Mocking-bird seizes and lifts it up, partly from the 

 ground, beating it with his wings, and when the business is 

 completed, he returns to the repository of his young, mounts 

 the summit of the bush, and pours out a torrent of song in token 

 of victory. 



As it is of some consequence to be able to distinguish a young 

 male bird from a female, the following marks may be attended 

 to; by which some pretend to be able to distinguish them in less 

 than a week after they are hatched* These are, the breadth 

 and purity of the white on the wings, for that on the tail is not 

 so much to be depended on. This white, in a full grown male- 

 bird, spreads over the whole nine primaries, down to, and con- 

 siderably below, their coverts, which are also white, sometimes 

 slightly tipt with brown. The white of the primaries also extends 

 equally far on both vanes of the feathers. In the female the white 

 is less pure, spreads over only seven or eight of the primaries, 

 does not extend so far, and extends considerably farther down 

 on the broad than on the narrow side of the feathers. The black 

 is also more of a brownish cast. 



The young birds, if intended for the cage, ought not to be left 

 till they are nearly ready to fly; but should be taken rather young 

 than otherwise; and may be fed, every half hour, with milk thick- 

 ened with Indian meal; mixing occasionally with it a little fresh 

 meat, cut or minced very fine. After they begin to eat of their 

 own accord, they ought still to be fed by hand, though at longer 

 intervals, and a few cherries, strawberries, &c., now and then 

 thrown in to them. The same sort of food, adding grasshoppers 

 and fruit, particularly the various kinds of berries in which they 

 delight; and plenty of clear fine gravel, is found very proper 

 for them after they are grown up. Should the bird at any time 

 appear sick or dejected, a few spiders thrown in to him will 

 generally remove these symptoms of disease. 



If the young bird is designed to be taught by an old one, the 

 best singer should be selected for this office, and no other allowed 

 to be beside him. Or if by the bird organ, or mouth-whistling, 

 it should be begun early, and continued, pretty constantly, 



VOL. II. N 



