MOCKING BIRD. 
97 
in those to the south, obtained the name of mocking* 
bird ; the first, or brown thrush, from its inferiority 
of song*, being called the French, and the other the 
English mockingbird, — a mode of expression probably 
originating in the prejudices of our forefathers, with 
whom every thing French was inferior to every thing 
English .* 
The mocking bird is frequently taken in trap cages, 
and, by proper management, may be made sufficiently 
tame to sing. The upper parts of the cage (which 
ought to be of wood) should be kept covered, until the 
bird becomes a little more reconciled to confinement. 
If placed in a wire cage, uncovered, he will soon destroy 
himself in attempting to get out. These birds, how- 
ever, by proper treatment, may be brought to sing 
perhaps superior to those raised by hand, and cost less 
trouble. The opinion which the naturalists of Europe 
entertain of the great difficulty of raising the mocking- 
bird, and, that not one in ten survives, is very incorrect. 
A person called on me a few days ago, with twenty- 
nine of these birds, old and young, which he had carried 
about the fields with him for several days, for the con- 
venience of feeding them while engaged in trapping 
others. He had carried them thirty miles, and intended 
carrying them ninety-six miles farther, viz. to New r 
York ; and told me, that he did not expect to lose one 
out of ten of them. Cleanliness, and regularity in 
feeding, are the two principal things to be attended to ; 
and these rarely fail to succeed. 
The eagerness with which the nest of the mocking- 
bird is sought after in the neighbourhood of Philadel- 
phia, has rendered this bird extremely scarce for an 
extent of several miles round the city. In the country 
round Wilmington and Newcastle, they are very nume- 
rous, from whence they are frequently brought here for 
* The observations of Mr Barrington, in the paper above referred 
to, make this supposition still more probable. “ Some nightin- 
gales,” says he, u are so vastly inferior, that the bird-catchers will 
not keep them, branding them with the name of Frenchmen.” 
p.- 288. 
VOL, II. G 
