164 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



and the intelligence seemingly varies as much as in the human race. It is claimed 

 that birds of one section of the Southern States are superior to those reared in 

 another. The birds which come from Louisiana, Florida, and Texas are claimed 

 to be the finest whistlers. It is certain that birds which come from these States are 

 larger and hardier than those hatched in the more northerly sections. The hand- 

 raised nestlings from the more southerly sections arrive North about June 1, and 

 are considered the prime birds of the young stock. 



Mocking-birds are very tough and hardy, and with good care live to be twenty 

 years of age. They sing all the year except during the moulting season and two 

 weeks of the breeding season. They are easily moulted ; the chief care being to 

 keep them out of draughts while shedding, and to feed an abundance of fresh, 

 green food and insects. The cage should be carefully kept clean, and plenty of 

 gravel strewn on the bottom, so as to keep the feet in order. They are very fond of 

 bathing, and should daily be given the tub. The prepared food, either moist or 

 dry, should be the regular diet. When the dry food is used, grated, raw carrot 

 must be mixed with it. For variety, feed the potato-and-egg mixture, with a 

 little Indian meal or grated carrot added. They are also fond of ripe fruits and 

 berries, which are very nourishing and healthy for them. During the seasons when 

 these cannot be obtained, soaked or scalded ants' eggs or soaked currants should 

 be added to the daily portion of food. A meal-worm or two may be given daily. 

 Spiders or insects of any kind are always welcome to them, and may be frequently 

 given as a change of diet. Frequent changes of food keep birds of this class in 

 the most perfect condition and song. The Mocking-bird is a very sprightly bird, 

 and possessed of a most voracious appetite : variety in food, and live insects, are, 

 therefore, essential to proper keeping. The bird-keeper who is continually fussing 

 with his Mocking-bird, giving him an odd dainty now and then, is always known to 

 have the healthiest and best song-bird. 



The diseases to which Mocking-birds are subject are few, and result, as a rule, 

 from inattention to the diet, or from colds caught by careless exposure. The 

 diseases may be more easily cured by building up the constitution by means of rich 

 feeding than by administering medicines. 



Constipation results from unwholesome food, and is cured by giving three 

 drops of castor-oil daily for three days. Insects, meal-worms, and green food, 

 should be fed in abundance until the bird is thoroughly cured. 



Diarrhoea is caused by foul drinking-water, or by feeding stale or sour green 

 food or fruits. Add three drops of laudanum to the drinking-water for a few days, 

 and change the food to stale bread soaked in boiled milk, sprinkled with cayenne 

 pepper. Feed, in addition, a mixture of grated, hard-boiled egg, carrot, and 

 soaked ants' eggs : too much green foods and insects should not be given during 

 the run of the disease. 



The Pip is a disease caused by cold, or feeding too much plain food : it may be 

 noticed by the white color or scale on the external skin of the tongue, beginning at 

 the tip, and extending down near the fork at the base. As soon as noticed, this 

 scale should be carefully removed by means of a sharp knife, commencing opera- 

 tions at the part near the base, and peeling the scale off to the tip of the tongue. 

 Then feed only the richest foods : a drop or two of glycerine dropped on the tongue 



