THE MOCKING- BIRD. 
63 
in the presence of the originals, and can scarcely realise the 
fact, that the whole of this singular concert is the effort of a 
single bird. Indeed, it is impossible to listen to these Orphean 
strains, when delivered by a superior songster in his native 
woods, without being deeply affected, and almost rivetted to 
the spot, by the complicated feelings of wonder and delight, in 
which, from the graceful and sympathetic action, as well as 
enchanting voice of the performer, the eye is no less gratified 
than the ear.* 
DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE MALE AND FEMALE. 
The young male bird, which must be selected as a singer, 
may be distinguished by the breadth and purity of the white 
on the wings. This white spot, in a full-grown male, spreads 
over the whole nine primaries, down to, and considerably 
below, their coverts, which are also white, sometimes slightly 
tipped with brown. The white of the primaries, also, extends to 
the same distance on both vanes of the feathers. In the female, 
the white is less clear, spreads only over seven or eight of the 
primaries, does not descend so far, and extends considerably 
further down on the broad than on the narrow side of the 
feathers. The black is also more inclined to brown. 
FOOD AND MANAGEMENT. 
I 
In a state of freedom, the principal food of the mocking 
bird consists of insects, grasshoppers, and worms. Dew¬ 
berries from the fields, and many kinds of our cultivated 
fruits, together with insects, supply the young as well as the 
parents with food. In winter, they chiefly subsist on berries, 
particularly those of the Virginia juniper, (red cedar,) wax 
myrtle, holly, smfax, sumach, sour gum, and a variety of 
others. 
* Nuttall. 
