TUllDIB^ — THE THRUSHES — MIMUS. 21 



Mimus polyglottus, Lixn-eus. 



THE MOCKING-BIKD. 



Tunhis poIijijloUus, Linn.eus, Syst. X.it I. 176G, :293. — Wilson, Am. Orn. II. 1810, 14; 

 pi. X. f. 1. — Bon. Syn. 1828, 76. — Aud. Orn. Biog. I. 1831, 103; V. 1839, 438; 

 |)1. 21. — Mimus polijglotlus, var. cauJutas, B.viRD, Rev. Amcr. Birds, 43; P. K. Rop. 

 IX. BirJs, 344, var. cmdatiis, 245. — KiiNNiiRLY, X. iv. 25. — Heermann, X. vi. 44. 



Si'. C'ii-4.u. Third to sl.xtli (juill.-; iiclu-1_v equal, second shorter than seventh. Tail con- 

 siderabl)' graduated. Above ashy brown, the feathers very slijihtly darker centrally, and 

 towai-ds the li.;;ht plumbeous downy basal portion (scarcely appreciable, except when the 

 feathers are lifted). The umler jiarts are wdiite with a faint brownish tinge, except on the 

 chin, and with a shade of ash across the breast. There is a pale superciliary stripe, but 

 the lores are dusky. The wings and tail are nearly black, except the lesser wing coverts, 



which are like the back ; the middle and greater tl])]>cd with white, forming two bands ; 

 the basal portion of the ])rimaries white, most extended on the inner ])rimaries. Tail much 

 graduated, the lateral feathers being 1.20 inch shorter than the middle. The outer tail 

 feather is white ; the second is mostly white, except on the outer ^vcl) and towards the 

 base ; the third black with a dull white tip ; the rest, except the middle, very slightly 

 tipped with wdute. The bill and legs are liluck. Length, 10.25 ; extent, 14.25 ; wing, 

 4.75 ; tail, 5.75. Iris yellow, bill and fc'ct black. 



Hub. West of llocky Mountains, and north to Monterey, C'alitbrnia. 



Our ^Mocking-bird appears to fonu a peculit^r variety, differing from tlie 

 Eastern in being larger, and having the tail much more graduated, besides 

 some minor differences of color. 



In habits I liave seen no difference, so far as I have observed them. 



At Fort ]\roja\'e they were rare in March, and so very wild tliat I could 

 not get witliiu gunsliot of tlium, living fruiu the tup of one bush to another 



