BOYHOOD AND BIRDS. 87 



In conclusion I will present the reader with some things 

 that have been said in regard to this extraordinary bird by 

 Wilson, which may be of some consequence to those who 

 may regard its value as a cage-bird. 



" 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 distin- 

 guish 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 much to be depended on. This white, 

 on a full-grown male bird, spreads over the whole nine pri- 

 maries, down to, and considerably below, their coverts, which 

 are also white, sometimes slightly tipped with brown. The 

 white of the primaries also extends equally far on both vans 

 of the feathers. In the female, the white is less pure, spreads 

 over only seven or eight of the primaries, does not descend 

 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 hall 

 hour, with milk, thickened with Indian meal ; mixing occa- 

 sionally 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, parti- 

 cularly the various kinds of berries in which they delight ; 

 and plenty of clean, fine gravel, is found very proper for them 

 after they are grown up. Should the bird at any time ap- 

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

 generally remove these symptoms of disease." 



This remark I have found to be amply verified in my own 

 experience. Indeed, I have observed that all the Turdinss 

 are greatly benefited while confined in cages, by an occa- 



