MIMOCICHLA. 



36 



MIMOCICHLA, ScLATER. 

 Mimocichla, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, 33G. (Type Tardus rubripes, Temm.) 



Form. — Bill large, about as long as the head, without apparent 

 notch in some species. Rictal bristles inconspicuous, those near the 

 angle of the mouth reaching scarcely more than half way to the 

 nostrils. Tarsi lengthened, equal to the middle toe and two lengths 

 of its claw, either entirely smooth (or " booted") anteriorly, or with 

 obsolete indications of scutellaB on the exterior face. Wing a little 

 shorter than the tail, rather pointed ; the 1st primary large, broadly 

 falcate, more or less obtuse, and contained from two and a half to 

 three times in the 2d primary, which is nearly equal to the 8th quill ; 

 the 4th and 5th quills longest, the od and 6th little shorter. Tail 

 somewhat graduated ; the lateral feathers about three-quarters of an 

 inch shorter. A naked ring round the eye. 



Color. — In the four species known to me the prevalent color is a 

 uniform slaty or plumbeous, as in the Cat-bird {Mimus carolinensis). 

 The extreme chin is white, the throat with a black patch, either uni- 

 form or interrupted with white. The lores and space beneath the 

 eye blackish. The lateral tail feathers have a terminal patch of 

 white on their under surface for nearly half the exposed length, 

 obscured on the outer web by a plumbeous tinge on the upper sur- 

 face. All the feathers of wings and tail black, the former with the 

 exposed or outer surface margined broadly with plumbeous in abrupt 

 contrast (the black shows externally on the ends of the quills). First 

 aud 2d quills black, without external margin. Tail feathers margined 

 at the base. 



The species may be thus distinguished : — 



Bill Mack ; whole under parts, including vent and crissum, 



uniform slaty ........ plumhea. 



Bill reddish-black ; under parts plumbeous, except vent and 



crissum, which are white ...... schistacea. 



Bill reddisli-black ; beneath plumbeous ; lower abdomen and 



thighs cinnamon red ; crissum white .... ruhrljies. 



