The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-10-10
OUR MOCKING BIRDS.
INTERESTING INFORMATION FROM
ONE WHO STUDIES THEM.

Each One Defends His Own Farm-The
Male Bird Is Very Greedy-whst They
Feed UpoD-Catching the Singers.
The most remarkable thing about a
mocking bird is its way of laying out a
range. In the autumn 1t goes south and
establishes itself for the winter on patch
Of ground that will yield berries and other
food enough to last until the following
spring. The tract is determined respect
ing boundaries with as much accuracy as
o mining prospector would use In stalking
out claim. Perhaps 1t may be only 90
yards square, or 1t may have length and
breadth Of rs much as 100 yards. The
space depends mainly upon the food sup
ply in sight, but the mooking bird is a
great glutton and wants ten times the
quantity that would be necessary TO keep
him alive. Having laid out his range, the
owner will defend it with his life and no
other fruit eating bird is permitted to en-
ter it.
In this manner vast areas In southwest
Texas are thickly occupied by mocking
birds each of them holding his range
against intrusion by neighbors whose
tracts Immediately adjoin his. Perhaps a
boundary line will run through the mid
die Of bush, and II 1t Is disputed you
will see the pugnaclous proprietors trying
to settle tho question by conflict after
the style of the duello.
When very young, after leaving the
nest, the mocking birds keep together in
punches, feeding along the river courses.
At that stage of their career they have
speckled breast feathers, which they shed
after awhile. When they are old enough
TO look out for themselves, they are driven
off the home range After shedding they
separate, and each one attends exclusively
to his own affairs. Their most important
business Is to locate claims of their own.
The tramps are usually young birds look
ing for hOmesteads. During most Of the
year the males and females have nothing
60 do with each other. The latter seek the
woods, while the former browse on the
cactus covered plains. In the breeding
season the hen birds come TO the range of
the males, but after the young are reared
the cock parts with his mate. He will not
have her on his range in winter because
he would have to divide the food.
In winter the mocking bird doesn't do
anything but eat and look out for tramps.
Once in awhile an interlopcr will steal
into the range unobserved and feed under
the cactus, keeping as still as death. The
chosen food Of the species consists chiefly
Of the fruit Of the cactus, mistletoe, mes
quite and poison ivy. The mistletoe is q
parasitic plant that grows on trees, and 1t
ispropagated by the birds, which eat the lit.
tie white berries and drop the seeds upon
the branches Of the trees. Thus they may
be said to plant their own farms. The
country described is very dry, and you
xTril HY1 hir11
from any water but what they need in the
way of moisture is obtained from the cac-
tus and other juicy fruits.
Mocking birds are very fond of water
After rain one may see them pecking the
drops from twigs with avidity. But If
far away from a stream-say, moro than
half q mile or so--they will never go in 1t
because they are afraid to leave their claims
even for few moments lest they be occu-
pied by intruders. II the stream Is not
far off, the moCking bird will risk the trip
occasionally. He does so with every pre-
caution, first rising perpendicularly to a
great height in the air. AS he passes over
the ranges that lie between his own and the
stream every bird is eager TO attack him.
but in no case will any bird pursue him
beyond the limits of its farm. Having OBJ
taihed the coveted drink, the mocking
bird returns ip the same manper,
Naturally inasmuch as the available
territory is crowded, each mocking bird
holds his own against continual pressure
on every side. His business is tosretain
as much ground as he Is able to defend.
They are like human beings In many re-
spects, and some of them are much more
intelligent than others: Certain individ-
uals have known year after Year. and I
make no attempt to trap them because
know that 1t Is useless They know too
much. Season after season they occupy
the same ranges, and can point out the
very twig upon which each Of these slick
fellows finds his natural perch. Try to
catch them with bird 3no? Not much 4!
1t Is performance unworthy of skilled
trapper, and besides 1t would ruin the
feathers.
The biggest and best marked mocking
birds are found within u belt 90 miles
north and 80 miles south Of San Antonio.
These birds seem to be migrating further
north and further south every year. They
are very prolific and are steadily increas-
ing In numbers apparently. II this is true
1t follows that they would be obliged to go
further for food. They have their summer
ranges in tho north and their winter
ranges in the south. I am not sure that
my theory Is correct, but have a notion
that along certain narrow line of lati-
tude the mocking birds stay on the same
ranges all the year around and do not
migrate at all. Those little outside OF
this belt fly over the heads Of those which
are stationary, having thus very short
migration. This goes on until you find
the mocking birds that are farthest to the
north In summer going farthest to the
south in winter. This they are Obliged tc
do In order to avoid contesting claims OF
territory with the intermediate birds.
Some mocking birds are taken from the
nests, but ordinarily they are captured by
means Of traps and decoys. For decoy
use either male or female mookirf
bird confined in q cage. The cage has
trap attachment. put the cage anywhere
in the range of mocking bird. He re
CARDS the decoy bird as an intruder anC
marches around the cage until he finds al
entrance. He walks In for the purpose o
attacking the captive bird, and the traI
closes behind him. come along at m!
leisure, take out one Of the birds and Sc
the cage in the next range. 1t is yer,
easy. The birds catch are males. A fe
male mocking bird Is Of no use, inasmucl
as 1t does not sing. Orleans Times
Democrat.
A " ell Regulated Town.