TURDID.E — THE THRUSHES. 



49 



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. 'pohjglottus is ashy brown above, 

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



Mimus polyglottus, Boie. 



MOCKING-BIKD. 



Turdiis polyglottuft, Linn. Syst. Nat. 10th ed. 1758, 169; 12tli ed. 17G6, 2%Z.— Mimus 

 polyglottus, Boie, Isis, 1826, 972. — Sclatkh, P. Z. S. 1856, 212. — Ib. 1859, 340.— 

 Ib. Catal. 1861, 8, no. 51. — Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 344. — Ib. Rev. 48.— 

 Samuels, 167. — Coopek, Birds Cal. I, 21. — Gundlach, Repertorio, 1865, 230 (Cuba). 

 — Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 230. — Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 65 (Arizona). ? Oiyhcus 

 leucopterus. Vigors, Zool. Beechey, 1839. 



Figures : Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, pi. x, fig. 1. — AuD. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, pi. xxi. — 

 Ib. Birds Amer. II, 1841, pi. 137. 



Sp. Char. Third and fourth quills longe.st ; 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 brownisli 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 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. 



Hab. North America, from about 40° (rare 

 in Massachusetts, Samuels), south to Mexico. 

 Said to occur in Cuba. 



The Mocking-Birds are closely allied, 

 requiring careful comparison to distin- 

 guish them. A near ally is 31. orpheus, 

 of Jamaica, but in tliis the outer feather 

 is white, and the 2d, 3d, and 4th tail- 

 feathers are marked like the 1st, 2d, and 

 l^d oi polyglottus, respectively. 



We have examined one hundred and 

 iburteen specimens, of the present species, 

 the series embracing large numbers from 

 Florida, the Rio Grande, Cape St. Lucas, and JMazatlan, and numerous 

 specimens from intermediate localities. The slight degree of variation 



Mimus polyglottus. 



