CHILL) BIRDS OF OUR GARDENS 
191 
the yard. I placed it right side up with care on the ground 
when it immediately turned over, feet up, and crying with all its 
might. The mother flew to it, or just above it, and the child 
bird caught her feet with its toes just as it had taken hold of my 
fingers. It was lifted in this way several times a few inches 
above the grass. 
Dark was coming on and I replaced it in the nest. Next day r 
I found it on the ground. Placing it in a box so it should re¬ 
main in my sight and not struggle away, I watched from an 
upper window. The mother flew down and stepped lightly 7 upon 
the back of the young one, clutching an instant, but unable to 
Young Mocking Bikd. 
get a good hold. She returned several times, apparently 7 trying 
to teach the child the art of turning over on its back and taking 
hold. I went down and turned it over, but the little thing was 
stupid. A boy, whom I know and respect, told me that he has 
seen a mother mocker carry a young one into the nest, and I be¬ 
lieve his story. 
As to the further baby habits of the mocker family, I have 
not room in this article to describe them. Of all our child birds 
they 7 are the most interesting, probably 7 for the reason that they 
remain infantile for so long a period. They 7 do not seem to gain 
in intelligence at an early day. But let a mocker once come of 
age, and y 7 ou need no other birds in your garden for company. 
You have all the birds. 
