THE TROOPIAL. 87 



ment with astonishing fidelity. We have heard 

 troopials thus instructed whose strain seemed to us 

 the very perfection of melody, such as only a skilful 

 performer could produce ; and such a one as this is 

 really a valuable bird. Give us the troopial with 

 the loud sweet song morning and evening, the vesper 

 and matin chants, and his beautiful plumes seeming 

 veritable sunbeams of the tropics, diffusing light and 

 warmth around. 



They are extremely active, and very graceful in 

 their movements, and require a cage the same size 

 that a mocking-bird is usually confined in. In 

 their wild state their food consists of insects and 

 berries ; caged, they require the same food and 

 treatment as the mocking-bird. They may also be 

 brought up without much difficulty upon white bread 

 soaked in milk, and raw lean meat scraped fine, and 

 mixed with it. There are few wild birds, which, 

 when confined, become so thoroughly domesticated 

 as the troopial. They can be taught with little 

 trouble to accept food from the hand, to fly to and 

 perch upon the one who regularly attends to their 

 daily requirements ; while their extreme docility is a 

 fact proven beyond a doubt. 



