244 The Mocking Bird. 



the native robin, we are surprised with the vociferations of the 

 whip-poor-will; while the notes of the garrulous jay, kildeer, 

 woodpecker, wren, fifing Baltimore, and many others succeed, 

 with such an appearance of reality, that we most imagine ourselves 

 in the presence of the originals, and can scarcely realize the fact, 

 that the whole of this singular concert is the effort of a single bird. 

 Indeed, it is impossible to listen to these Orphean strains, when 

 delivered by a superior songster in his native woods, without being 

 deeply affected, and almost rivetted to the spot, by the compli- 

 cated feelings of wonder and delight, in which, from the graceful 

 and sympathetic action, as well as enchanting voice of the per- 

 former, the eye is no less gratified than the ear. It is, however, 

 painful to reflect, that these extraordinary powers of nature, exer- 

 cised with so much generous freedoi^ in a state of confinement, 

 are not calculated for long endurance^ and after this most wondef- • 

 ful and interesting prisoner has survived for six or seven years, 

 blindness often terminates his gay career; and thus shut out froiVi 

 the cheering light, the solace of his lonely but active existence, 

 he now, after a time, droops in silent sadness and dies. 



Successfid attempts have been made to breed this bird in con- 

 finement by allowing them retirement and a sufficiency of room. 

 Those which have been taken in trap cages are accourlted the best 

 singers, as they come from the school of nature, and are taught 

 their own wild wood notes. The prices of these invaluable song- 

 sters are as variable as their acquired or peculiar powers, and are^ , 

 from five to fifty dollars; even a hundred has been refused for arx,/i \ 

 extraordinary individual. The food of the youhg is thickened 

 meal and water, ok meal and milk, mixed occasionally with tender 

 fresh meat, minced fine. Animal food, almost alone, finely divid- 

 ed and soaked in milk, is at first the only nutritive food suited for 

 raising the tender nursehngs. Young and old require berries of 

 various kinds, from time to time, such as cherries, strawberries, 

 Avhortleberries, ^'c, and, in short, any kind of wild fruits of which 

 they are fond, if not given too freely, are useful. A few grass- 

 hoppers, beetles, or any insects conveniently to be had, as well 

 as gravel, are also necessary; and spiders will often revive them 

 when drooping or sick. 



The young male bird, which rhust be selected as a singer, may 

 be distinguished by the breadth and purity of the white on the 

 wings. This white spot, in a full grown male, spreads over the 

 whole nine primaries, down to, and considerably below their cov- 

 erts, which are also white, sometimes slightly tipt with brown. 

 The white of the primaries, also, extends to the same distance 

 on both vanes of the feathers. In the female, the white is less 



