{)3S 



CAT BIHP. 



Fit!-, in 



Ilca.l of adult Cat 



MIMUS CAROLINENSIS 



Cat Bird 



Mimus carulinciisis Gray, Genera, isl-i-tll 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si'. Cn. F'lrui, rather slender. Bill, slender, gently curved. Scutella I'n anterior tarsi in !idult 

 specimens fused into a continuous jtlate. Sternum, rather weaker than that of the picceding sjiecics, in 

 comparison to its size, but of the same relative proportions. Color. Adult. Prevailing color, dark plum- 

 beous, lighter beneath. Crown, nape, and upper part of tail, sooty black ; the outer edges of the latter are 



edged with plumbeous. Quills and secondaries, very dark brown, 

 h1.'!-o edged with plumlicous. Under tail coverts, chestnut. Bill, 

 black. Iris and feet, brown. Young, similar to tlie ailult, with 

 the crown lighter, especially at the base of bill. The under tail 

 diverts are streaked with ashy. Sexes, similar in all stages. 

 Young in the nestling plumage, every way pidcr, especially the 

 chestnut "f the under tail coverts. There is also a tinge of red- 

 dish (HI the upjier wing coverts. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This well known species may be readily distinguished from 

 alt othei-s by the above descriptions. Specimens fn}m Key West 

 are not only smaller in size, but much darker in color, the top of 

 the head being entirely black. Bahama specimens agree more 

 nearly with northern binls than with those from Florida, ( See 

 Bird. Ajipendix ). Found during the breeding season throughout East- 



ern North America ; winters from the Carolinas to Florida, and 

 from Indian Territory to Southern Central America. ComnKm on 

 the Bahamas at this season of the .year, and occasional in Cuba. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of nine specimens from New England. Length, 8.01; stretch, 1 1.73 ; wing, 

 0.4!) ; tail, 3.82 ; bill, .G3 ; tarsus, 1 .07. Longest specimen, 9.35 ; greatest stretch of wings, 12.00 ; greatest 

 length of wing, 3.82 : of tail, 4.00 ; of bill, .Go ; of tarsus, 1.10. Shortest specimen, S.45 ; smallest stretch of 

 wings, I1.2t! ; shortest wing, 3.50 ; tail, 3.60 ; bill, .00 ; tarsus, 1.05. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, composed of leaves, grape-vine bark and weeds, lined with fine roots. Dimensions. External 

 diameter, U inches ; internal, 3.50 inches. External depth, 3.50 inches ; internal, 2 inches. Eggs, four or 

 five in number, rather pointed, and deep green in color. Dimensions, from .90 by .GO to .95 by .75. 



HABITS. 

 Nearly every one in the ea.stern section of the Tnited States is faniihar -with this 

 species ; and it is one, among a few, that is known by the same name throughont that 

 portion of the conntry in wliieh it occurs. This is owing solely to a peculiar alai'm note^ 

 which bears a strong resemblance to the mewing of a cat. This sound is only emitted 

 when the bird perceives an enemy ; then, if it does not apprehend much danger, the mew 

 is given (piite plaintively ; while it hops trom bough to bough, and peers through the 

 bushes in an inquisitive manner. But, if it thinks its eggs or young are in peril, it loses 



