92 MOCKING-BIRD POOD. 



katydid, the mellow whistle of the cardinal, the 

 grunt of the maternal porker searching for her 

 juveniles, the creaking of some rusty swing-sign- 

 board, the pipe of the canary, and the cry of some 

 lost puppy wailing in the midnight air, and each 

 succeeding the other with such rapidity, that the 

 listener wonders if such a variety can come from 

 so small an object. All this the mocking-bird is 

 capable of. The mocking-bird is a general favorite, 

 and deserves to be attentively cared for. He is 

 particular, and should be fed and watered at the 

 same time every day. His cage should be large, and 

 kept very clean, with plenty of gravel. His food 

 should be 



OUR PREPARED FOOD. It is for mocking-birds 

 and all long-bill or soft-bill birds ; has been used for 

 a great many years, and -is pronounced best. It is 

 in bottles all ready for use ; in the boxes it requires 

 the addition of equal quantity of grated raw car- 

 rot. The box-food lasts longer, and so is cheaper. 

 A good way is to feed the two kinds alternately. A 

 few ant's eggs, soaked and mixed with the food, is 

 very beneficial. They can be had of us. A little 

 sweet-apple grated up with the food gives it a fine 

 flavor, and often restores the appetite when it is poor 

 during moulting, and hot weather. During moult- 

 ing, add ants' eggs and meal-worms to food, daily. 



A SUPPLY of INSECTS should be gathered during 

 the proper season, such as flies, grasshoppers, spi- 

 ders, &c., and put loosely in a paper bag, and hung 

 ap to dry ; and, when used in winter, they should 



