DIKKCTOKY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 271 



1. MOCKINGBIRD, M. polyglottus. 10.00; dark, 

 ashy-gray above ; dull-white beneath ; patch at base of prim- 

 aries, and large portion of outer primaries, white ; iris, yel- 

 Fig. 361. lowish-white, fig. 361. 



Eesident from Mexi- 

 co north to Md. and 

 Colo., casually to 

 Mass. Frequents 

 thickets. Song, loud, 

 clear, and varied, of- 

 ten mimicking the 

 songs of other birds. 



b. Catbirds. 

 Gale o copies. 



Bill, shorter than 

 a; tail, less rounded; 

 colors, more uniform ; 

 no white on t a i I or 

 wings. N e st s , in 

 CC, Q, a, 1. bushes; eggs, blue, CC, Q, c, 1. 



1-5. unsj^otted. 1-6. 



1. CATBIRD, O. CAKOLiNENSis. 9.00; dark plumbeous; 

 lighter beneath ; top of head and tail, black ; under tail cov- 

 erts, chestnut. Breeds in eastern U. S. from the Gulf States 

 north into the British Provinces west to the Rockies ; winters 

 in the Southern States, casually north to Mass, ; south in 

 Sep. and Oct. ; north in April and May. Frequents thickets, 

 often near dwellings. Song, rich and varied, sometimes mi- 

 micking other birds ; notes rather deliberately given. 



1*. KEY WEST CATBIRD, G. c. grisifrons. Smaller 

 than 1; bill, more slender; darker, but with forehead gray- 

 ish, fig. 362, page 272. Key West. 



c. Thraslier.s. Toxostoma. 

 Larger than b ; bill, longer ; somewhat curved tail much 

 rounded. Nests, on or near the ground; eggs, spotted. 



