Birds 95 



above timber line. Sclater describes the eggs as dark brownish- 

 purple, almost hidden by splashes of purplish-black. The pipits 

 are essentially an Old World group, and our bird is now considered 

 a subspecies of the Water-Pipit of Europe. But at some remote 

 time a member of this group reached America, and we have in the 

 interior plains, migrating to Mexico, a single isolated species 

 (Anthus spraguei of Audubon) which is so distinct that it forms 

 the subgenus Neocorys of P. L. Sclater. It occurs in Montana 

 and Texas, so might be expected in Colorado. 



CINCLIDAE 



The Dipper or Water Ouzel (Cinclus mexicanus unicolor) is 

 the one passerine which may be said to be aquatic. It is often 

 seen on the rocks by mountain streams, plunging boldly into the 

 water in search of food. It is a gray bird with a short tail, very 

 easily recognized by its habits. The genus Cinclus is circumpolar. 



MIMIDAE 



The word Mimus means a mimic, or originally a buffoon. 

 Thus our Western Mocking-bird (Mimus polyglottos leucopierus) 

 has a name which means in Greek the white-winged mimic of many 

 tongues. It is said to be fairly common during the summer in 

 the southern part of the State. The family Mimidae is pe- 

 culiar to America, and includes a number of interesting birds. 

 The Cat-bird (Dumetella carolinensis) is really a close relative of 

 Mimus, but it has no white on wings or tail. The crown, nape 

 and tail are black. It is often seen during the summer, its pe- 

 culiar cry resembling the mewing of a cat. It is however capable 

 of singing well and imitating other birds. The generic name 

 Dumetella was proposed in 1837 by an author of whom we know 

 only the initials, S. D. W. The Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes 

 montanus) has a spotted breast and squared off, slightly emargi- 

 nate, tail, the general effect suggesting a thrush. It lives in the 

 arid sage-brush region, and was first described from Wyoming. 

 The Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is rufous above, with two 

 narrow white bars on the wing, the tail rounded at end; the under 

 parts are spotted with brown. It is a summer bird of the plains 



