MUCKING BIRD. _ G35 



restricted on the outer. T;iil, very dark brown ; the outer feathers, pure white : the next two white on the 

 tip, and for one-half the terminal length of the inner web. The next two are tipped with the same. Chin, 

 white. Ring around the eye, a faint superciliary line, and the remainder of under parts, dirty white, more 

 dusky on the flanks, breast and tibiae. The crown and ear coverts are sometimes streaked with dusky. 

 The under tail coverts are generally tinged with pale buff. Bill and feet black, with the base of the under 

 minililtle brown. Irides. pale yellow. Young, similar, but with the white more restricted, and a reddish 

 suffusion throughout. The flanks are streaked with dusky. Young, in the nestling jilumage, has the breast 

 streaked with dusky. The white edgings of the scapulars are also broader. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There are no others with which this species can be confounded, excepting, perhaps, some of the West 

 India forms. Specimens vary much in amount of white on the tail ; one. from Key West, has all the feath- 

 ers of the tail tipjjed with it. Specimens from this place, evidently constant residents upon the key, are 

 generally of much smaller size than those from further north. They are, however, not darker than those 

 taken about Jacksonville. Occurs as a constant resident throughout the United States to Southern New 

 England, Iowa, and Northern Wvoraing. rarely as far north as Boston, Massachusetts. Probably rare in 

 €uba. 



DLMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of thirt\--seven specimens from Florida. Length, 9.77: stretch, 13.32; wing, 

 4.in ; tail, 5.q3; bill, .72; tarsus, lit). Longest specimen, 10.20; greatest extent of wings, 14.2.5; great- 

 est length of wing, 4.G0; of tail, ."i.OI!: of bill, .81 ; of tarsus, 1.6-5. Shortest specimen, !). 00 ; smallest stretch 

 of wings, 12.80 ; shortest wing, 3.20; tail, 3.. 50; bill, .60 ; tarsus, l.CHl 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, composed outwardly of twigs and weeds; lined with fibrous roots. One which I now have be- 

 fore me, that was collected at Dunn's Lake, by Mr. Burton, is composed outwardly of dried everlasting 

 ( Antennaria ) and smoothly lined with horse-hair, fibrous roots and cotton. There is also a piece of blue 

 cotton cord woven into the stincture. It is rather shallow. Dimensions. External diameter, 6 inches; 

 internal, o., 50 inches. External depth, 2 inches : internal, l.ol) inches. Eggs, usually five in number ; pale 

 greenish blue, spotted and blotched irregularly with umber, of varying shades, and pale lilac. These spots 

 are usually accumulated more thickly at the larger end, and sometimes cover it completely. Dimensions, 

 from .!.)4 by .73 to l.(JO by .74. 



HABITS. 



Tile Moclviiiii: Bird, like the Robin, seein.s to have acquired a love for the habitations 

 of man. Tills pecidiarit\' is perhaps due in a measure to the projection which such local- 

 ities aflbrd against various natural enemies. Not only because hawks, wild cats, oposs- 

 ums and other animals are apt to avoid the presence of mankind, but as the country is 

 open about plantations it enables the birds to perceive more readily the approach of any 

 intending disturber of their peace. I think it probable that before the land was inhabited 

 they avoided the thickly wooded sections, for the few that are found in the wilds of Flor- 

 ida live ill little isolated hammocks and clumps of bushes that grow in the 02)en pine 

 barrens. The security aflbrded them by civilization must have tended to concentrate 

 them, or has caused them to increase rapidly, for tliey are very abundant in the vicinity 

 of plantations and towns, and comparatively few are found away from them. For example, 

 there were hundreds on the inhaljited section of Key West, while but few were to be seen 

 on the other portions of the island, or on keys which were not settled. 



