BOYHOOD AND BIRDS. 
87 
In conclusion I will present the reader with, some things 
that have been said in regard to this extraordinary bird by 
Wilson, which may be of some consequence to those who 
may regard its value as a cage-bird. 
" As it is of some consequence to be able to distinguish a 
young male bird from a female, the following marks may be 
attended to ; by which some pretend to be able to distin- 
guish them in less than a week after they are hatched. These 
are, the breadth and purity of the white on the wings, for 
that on the tail is not much to be depended on. This white, 
on a full-grown male bird, spreads over the whole nine pri- 
maries, down to, and considerably below, their coverts, which 
are also white, sometimes slightly tipped with brown. The 
white of the primaries also extends equally far on both vans 
of the feathers. In the female, the white is less pure, spreads 
over only seven or eight of the primaries, does not descend 
so far, and extends considerably farther down on the broad, 
than on the narrow side of the feathers. The black is also 
more of a brownish cast. 
" The young birds, if intended for the cage, ought not to 
be left till they are nearly ready to fly ; but should be taken 
rather young, than otherwise ; and may be fed, every hall 
hour, with milk, thickened with Indian meal ; mixing occa- 
sionally with it a little fresh meat, cut or minced very fine. 
After they begin to eat of their own accord, they ought still 
to be fed by hand, though at longer intervals, and a few 
cherries, strawberries, &c., now and then thrown in to them. 
The same sort of food, adding grasshoppers and fruit, parti- 
cularly the various kinds of berries in which they delight ; 
and plenty of clean, fine gravel, is found very proper for them 
after they are grown up. Should the bird at any time ap- 
pear sick or dejected, a few spiders thrown in to him will 
generally remove these symptoms of disease." 
This remark I have found to be amply verified in my own 
experience. Indeed, I have observed that all the Turdinas 
are greatly benefited while confined in cages, by an occa- 
