THE MO( 1 KJXn-BIRD. 163 



The difference in the sexes is distinguished by certain marks on the wing-feathers ; 

 but the best judges are at times puzzled by peculiarities in the markings, and their 

 decisions are erroneous. In appearance, the male exactly resembles the female : but 

 the female rarely whistles ; the only noise which she is usually capable of uttering is 

 a harsh note of alarm or defiance. There are cases, however, where Mocking- 

 birds, most excellent songsters, were proved to be females by the eggs found in 

 their cages. Sometimes the exact markings of the male Mocking-bird are seen to 

 perfection in the female bird : this, however, is rarely the case. The highest type 

 of a perfectly marked male Mocking-bird is called the four-feather bird. The bird' 

 known as the three-feather bird is also considered perfect. The above titles relate 

 to the number of primary feathers of the wing, feathers which have perfectly 

 shaped white markings. To examine the wing of the Mocking-bird, to distinguish 

 the sexes, catch the bird firmly in the left hand, and extend either wing to the 

 fullest extent with the right, looking at the wing on the upper side ; the white color- 

 ing will be observed to be longest on the feathers nearest the tip of the wing ; the 

 extent of white coloring gradually diminishes on the feathers nearer the body, and in 

 the case of the perfect-marked male bird resembles somewhat the segment of a 

 circle, and in some localities has received the name of half-moon. The three 

 longer primaries which have the white color will be found to have no dark mark- 

 ings, or splashes, intermixed with the white. If the white markings are splashed, 

 or do not extend directly across the feathers, the bird may be a female. In rare 

 cases, four of the feathers are unmistakably marked .with clear white ; and these are 

 considered perfect-marked birds, and recognized as males to a certainty. The 

 birds which have two feathers and a half clear, the two longer white-colored feathers 

 perfect, and a splash, or dark mark, on the white, on one side of the quill of the 

 third feather, are generally males ; though females are sometimes so marked. 

 The white color on the feathers of the female bird will be found to be splashed, 

 and irregularly marked throughout. The birds which have broad wing-feathers are 

 preferred to those with narrow feathers. A little practice in handling a number of 

 both sexes will easily make one familiar with the markings. The female Mocking- 

 bird sings little or none, and is of use only when breeding is desirable : and, if the 

 Mocking-bird which you possess has always been a " silent songster," the better 

 way, rather than to wait with expectations never to be fulfilled, is, to have the bird 

 examined by an expert ; and, if it proves to be a female, the expense and trouble of 

 feeding will be saved by presenting her to some worthy friend, or, if the weather 

 is warm, allowing her to go free. She may be used for the purpose of breeding. 



Mocking-birds have been successfully bred in confinement ; the chief require- 

 ments being plenty of room, good, sunny exposure, and rich food. There are many 

 cases on record where the same pair have bred for years in succession. For breed- 

 ing purposes the hand-raised nestlings are preferred, as their long domestication is 

 apt to make them less shy. 



Mocking-birds, during the first season, do not attain the full song, and are 

 termed young birds : after the second spring, there is a marked improvement in 

 the purity and compass of the voice. The three-years' old birds are considered 

 the prime songsters, and at that age and afterwards should be heard at their best. 

 There is a marked difference in the quality of the voices of different Mocking-birds, 



