Nests in Trees, Bushes, or Vines 
708. Mocking-bird: Mimus polyglottos (Linn.) 
Adult—Upper parts bluish or ashy gray ; under parts buffy or 
grayish white. 
Immature birds have the breast and sides spotted. 
Length—10.50. 
Breeding Range—From southern Illinois and New Jersey (rarely 
Massachusetts) southward. 
The nest is built of twigs, strips of bark, fine roots, weeds, 
and sometimes rags; the lining is of feathers, hair, and fine roots. 
It is placed either in a tangle of undergrowth or in trees such as 
the orange, cedar, water oak, etc. The eggs are pale green or 
buffy gray, with spots and blotches of reddish or yellowish 
brown. Size—.95 x .7o. See Fig. 18, Plate D. 
So well known is the Mocking-bird as a songster that but 
little need be said of ithere. The young are easily reared, but 
my experience leads me to believe that they are not easily tamed ; 
those that I have had were nervous and rather wild, and never 
cared to be handled even when quite young. | am rather sur- 
prised to see that certain writers speak of the immature mock- 
ing-bird as being similar to the adults. All those that I have 
reared have kept the spots on the breast until almost four months 
old. The breeding season begins early in May, and several 
broods are reared. 
704. Catbird: Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.) 
Adult—Upper parts dark slaty gray ; crown and tail dull black ; 
under parts slaty gray ; under tail coverts bright chestnut. 
Length—8.95. 
Breeding Range—Throughout the Eastern States. 
The nest is ragged but well made of sticks, leaves, fine roots, 
weeds, grass, strips of bark, and lined chiefly with fine roots. 
It is placed in briers or low bushes, usually not more than about 
seven feet from the ground. The eggs, 3 to 5 in number, are 
rather dark greenish blue. Size—.95 x .70. See Fig. 9, Plate D. 
These well-named and well-known birds rank high in the 
list of our songsters ; their song, which, though small in volume, 
is full of sweetness, may be heard at almost any time of day 
167 
