The MocMng-bird. 173 



It is a quarrelsome bird, and cannot be trusted in a mixed 

 aviary without danger to its smaller companions. 



A pair of Mocking-birds require a good-sized garden aviary 

 to themselves, if it be desired that they should breed, which 

 they are ready enough to do ; making a nest in an open box 

 or a Hartz-cage from which the top has been removed, or a 

 wire basket. The eggs, from three to seven in number, are 

 bluish green with brown spots, and are hatthed in about 

 fourteen days. 



So far all ordinarily goes well : but disappointment is almost 

 certain to follow later on; for, after a few days, the old ones 

 too often desert their helpless- brood, which, of course, must 

 then perish miserably, if, indeed, they are not killed outright 

 by the unnatural parents, who, stimulated by eating too many 

 good things, want to go to nest again. The only course for 

 the owner to adopt under such circumstances is, as soon as 

 he perceives the least tendency on the part of the parents to 

 neglect their duty, to at once constitute himself the foster- 

 father of the little brood, and bring them up by hand, which 

 is not a very diflcult task. 



Nest and all should be removed indoors, care being taken 

 that the young ones are not distuibed: they must be kept 

 in a warm place, be covered over with cotton-wool, and fed, 

 about once an hour, from dawn to dusk, on gentles in the 

 pupa stage, small black beetles, yolk of egg, scraps of lean 

 raw meat, and green caterpillars, if obtainable. Thus managed 

 the youthful Mocking-birds will thrive to admiration, and be 

 able, in about three weeks' time, to take good care of them- 

 selves. By thus acting three good broods will in all proba- 

 bility be obtained from a single pair each season, whereas if 

 the birds were left to themselves, most likely not a single 

 one would be reared. 



The Mocking-bird requires a large-sized cage, or his plumage 

 will very soon be spoiled: he thrives best in a large, well- 

 planted aviary out of doors, where he can get both air and 



