328 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



The length of the Mocking-bird is 9^ inches, and 13 in alar ex- 

 tent. Individuals of the first brood in the season are larger and more 

 robust than those produced later. Above ash-color, at length inclin- 

 ed to brown. The wings and tail nearly black, the first and second 

 rows of coverts tipt with white ; the primary coverts in some males 

 are wholly white, in others tinged with brown. The 3 first prima- 

 ries are white from their roots as far as their coverts ; the white on 

 the next 6 extends from an inch to 1| farther down, and equally on 

 both sides of the feather. The tail is wedge-shaped, the 2 outer 

 feathers white, the rest, except the middle ones, tipt with white. 

 Chin white ; the remaining parts below, a brownish white, and 

 clearer in wild than domesticated birds. Iris inclining to golden, 

 but lighter. Bill, legs, and feet black ; the base of the lower man- 

 dible whitish. The difference in the female is already given. The 

 breast of the young is spotted like that of the Thrush. 



FERRUGINOUS THRUSH, or THRASHER. 



{Turchis rufiis, Lin. Wilson. Am. Orn. ii. p. S3, pi. 14, fig, 1. Phil. 

 '"* Museum, No. 52S5.) 



Sf. Chract. Reddish-brown j beneath whitish, spotted with black ; 

 tail very long and rounded ; wings with 2 whitish bands ; the bill 

 long, and without notch. 



This large and well known songster, inferior to none 

 but the Mocking-bird in musical talent, is found in every 

 part of this continent, from Canada to the shores of the 

 Mexican Gulph, breeding in all the intermediate space, 

 though more abundantly towards the north. They retire 

 to the south, early in October, in the states north of the 

 Carolinas, and probably extend their migrations at this 

 season through the warmer regions towards the borders of 

 the tropics. 



From the 15th of April to early in May they begin to 

 revisit the Middle and Northern States, keeping pace, in 

 some measure, with the progress of vegetation and the 



