ONTARIO. 



variable in shade ; breast and sides of neck and body thickly streaked with 

 dusky ; wings and tail blackish, inner secondaries pale edged ; one or more 

 outer tail feathers wholly or partly white. Length, about 6^ ; wing, 3 J ; tail, 

 2|-3- 



Hab. North America at large; breeding in the higiier parts of the Rocky 

 Mountains and subarctic districts; and wintering in the Gulf States, Mexico 

 and Central America. Accidental in Europe. 



Nest, a cavity in the ground ; lined thickly with coarse dry grass. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; dark chocolate, with spots and streaks of black. 



In spring and fall loose straggling flocks of Pipits are seen 

 on the commons, either searching for food on the ground or in 

 short stages working their way to their breeding grounds in the 

 far north, though how tliey ever get there is a wonder to any 

 one who notices their weak and vacillating flight. 



In spring they pass along very quickly, but in the fall they 

 are seen in flocks b}' the shores of muddy ponds or creeks, or in 

 moist meadows in the open country, nervously jerking their tails 

 after the manner of the Water-Thrushes. Their only note while 

 here is a weak, timid "cheep" uttered v/hile on the wing. 



On the 2oth of July, 1871, Mr. Allen found young birds of 

 this species, scarcely able to fly, on Mount Lincoln, Park 

 County, Colorado, among the snow fields above timber line. 



Dr. Coues found them breeding abundantly on the coast of 

 Labrador, and noticed their habit of resorting to the sea shore 

 at low tide, there to ramble about in company with the Sand- 

 pipers in search of food. 



Family TROGLODYTID^. Wrens, Thrashers, etc. 



Subfamily MIMING. Thrashers. 



Genus MIMUS Boie. 



281. MIMUS POLYGLOTTOS (Linn.). 703. 



Mockingbird. 



Wings considerably shorter than tail ; above ashy-gray ; below whitish ; 

 wings and tail blackish, the former with two white wing-bars and large white 

 spot at base of primaries, latter with i to 3 outer feathers more or less white. 

 Length, 9-10; wing, about 4 ; tail, about 5. 



281 



