TROGLODYTID^ — THE WRENS AND M0CKING-THEUSHE8. 105 



extremely varied, but almost constantly uttered in pairs, producing 

 by the latter peculiarity a song unmistakably individual in char- 

 acter. 



Genus MIMUS Boie. 



Mimiis Boie, Isis, Oct. 1826, 972. Type, Turdus polyglottos Linn. 



"Gen. Chae. Bill not much more than half the length of the head; gently deaurved 

 from the base, notched at tip; commissure curved. Gonys straight, or slightly concave. 

 Rictal bristles quite well developed. Wings rather shorter than the tail. First primary 

 about equal to. or rather more than half, the second; third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly 

 equal, sixth scarcely shorter. Tail considerably graduated; the feathers stiff, rather 

 narrow, especially the outer webs, lateral feathers about three quarters of an inch the 

 shorter, in the type. Tarsi longer than middle toe and claw by rather less than an addi- 

 tional claw; tarsi conspicuously and strongly seutellate; broad plates seven. 



"Of this genus there are many species in America, although but 



one occurs within the limits of the United States. 



, "The single North American species M. polyglottus is ashy brown 



above, white beneath ; wings and tail black, the former much varied 



with white." (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



Mimus polyglottos (Linn.) 



MOCKING-BIRD. 



Popular synonym.— Southern Mocking-bird. 



Turdiis polyglotios Linn. S. N. ed. 10, i, 1758, 169; ed. 12, i, 1766, 293. 



Turdus polyglottus Gmel. S. N. i, 1788, 812.— WiLS. Am. Orn. ii, 1810, 14, pi. 10, flg. 1.— AuD. 

 Orn. Biog. i. 1S31, 108, pi. 21.— Nutt. Man. i, 1832, 320. 

 Mimus polyglottus BoNAP. Comp. Geog. List, 1837, 17— Baied, B. N.Am. 1858.34); Cat. N. 

 Am. B. 1859, No. 253; Review. 1864. 48.— CouES, Key, 1872, 74; Check List, 1873, No. 8; 

 2d ed. 18S2, No. 15; B. N. W. 1874. 8; B. Col. Val. 1878. 53.— B. B. & B. Hist. N. Am. B. i, 

 1874, 49, pi. 3. flg. 4.— RiDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 18S1, No. 11. 

 Orpheus polyglottus Svi^iss. Zool. Jour, iii, 1827, 167.— Aud. Synop. 1839, 87; B. Am. ii, 

 1841, 187. pi. 138. 



Hab. United States, chiefly south of 40°, but occasionally to, or even across, the north- 

 ern border (west of the Mississippi, breeding as far north as Ft. Fetterman, Wyoming 

 Terr.); Mexico, and Greater Antilles. (Resident throughout its range.) 



"Sp. Chae. Third and fourth quills longest; second about equal to eighth; the first half 

 or more than half the second. Tail considerably graduated. Above ashy brown, the 

 feathers very obsoletely darker centrally, and towards the light plumbeous downy basal 

 portion (scarcely appreciable, except when the feathers are lifted). The under parts are 

 white, 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 dusjiiy. The wings and tail 

 ai'e dark brown, nearly black, except the lesser wing-coverts, which are like the back; 

 the middle and greater tipped with white, forming two bands; the basal portion of the 

 primaries white; most extended on the inner primaries. The outer tail-feather is white, 

 sometimes a little mottled; the second is mostly white, except on the outer web and 

 towards the base; the third with a white spot on the end; the rest, except the middle, 

 very slightly or not at all tipped with white. The bill and legs are black. Length, 9.50; 

 wing, 4.50; tail, 5.00. 



"Young. Similar, but distinctly spotted with dusky on the breast, and obsoletely on the 

 back." {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



