24 MOCKING-BIRD. 



those of the first hatch being uniformly the biggest and stoutest.* The 

 upper parts of the head, neck and back, are a dark, brownish ash ; and 

 when new moulted, a fine light gray ; the wings and tail are nearly 

 black, the first and second rows of coverts tipped with white ; the 

 primary coverts, in some males, are wholly white, in others tinged with 

 brown. The three first primaries are white from their roots as far as their 

 coverts ; the white on the next six extends from an inch to one and 

 three-fourths farther down, descending equally on both sides of the 

 feather; the tail is cuneiform, the two exterior feathers wholly white, 

 the rest, except the middle ones, tipped with white ; the chin is white ; 

 sides of the neck, breast, belly and vent a brownish white, much purer 

 in wild birds than in those that have been domesticated ; iris of the eye 

 yellowish cream colored, inclining to golden ; bill black, the base of the 

 lower mandible whitish ; legs and feet black, and strong. The female 

 very much resembles the male ; what difference there is has been already 

 pointed out in a preceding part of this account. The breast of the 

 young bird is spotted like that of the Thrush. 



Mr. William Bartram observes of the Mocking-bird, that " formerly, 

 say thirty or forty years ago, they were numerous, and often stayed all 

 winter with us, or the year through, feeding on the berries of ivy, 

 smilax, grapes, persimmons, and other berries. The ivy [Hedera helex) 

 they were particularly fond of, though a native of Europe. We have 

 an ancient plant adhering to the wall of the house, covering many yards 

 of surface ; this vine is very fruitful, and here many Avould feed and 

 lodge during the winter, and in very severe cold weather sit on the top 

 of the chimney to warm themselves." He also adds, "I have observed 

 that the Mocking-bird ejects from his stomach through his mouth the 

 hard kernels of berries, such as smilax, grapes, &c., retaining the 

 pulpy part."t 



* Many people are of opinion that there are two sorts, the large and the small 

 Mocking-bird ; but after examining; great numbers of these birds in various regions 

 of the United States, I am satisfied that this variation of size is merely accidental, 

 or owing to tlie circumstunoc al>ove mentioned. 



t Letter from Mr. Burtram to the author. 



