214 



MOCKING THRUSH. 



since, from the young birds being taken so fre- 

 quently ; a fine bird has been known to fetch one 

 hundred dollars and upwards : its general haunts 

 are in moist shady woods, where it builds its nest, 

 which is composed of dry sticks and twigs, mixed 

 with straw, hay, pieces of wool and tow, and lined 

 with a thick layer of light brown fibrous roots: its 

 eggs are four or five in number, of an ash-coloured 

 blue, sprinkled with brown blotches : the female 

 sits fourteen days, and has generally two, and if 

 disturbed, three broods in the year. 



Immense numbers of these birds are taken in 

 some parts of the United States, for the purpose 

 of keeping in confinement on account of their 

 songs ; and amongst them many young ones are 

 captured, which are far from being difficult to 

 rear, as they will bear great fatigue, and only re- 

 quire to be kept clean and well fed : when first 

 taken they will endeavour to escape through the 

 wires of their cages, and will kill themselves if the 

 upper parts of them be not made of wood, so as 

 entirely to obstruct their view: they are fond of 

 berries of various sorts, and also insects. They 

 are found throughout all parts of North America, 

 and great part of the West Indies. 



