MIMUS POLYGLOTTUS : MOCKING-BIRD. 6l 



as just intimated. The eggs are laid about the ist of 

 June, a second set being sometimes deposited in July. 

 The nesting habits, as well as the general traits of the 

 bird, are similar to those of the Hermit, although the 

 Veery is not so retiring and solitary. The nest is 

 usually placed on the ground, or near it, at the foot 

 of a bush or tussock, though sometimes elevated a 

 little distance. The eggs, to the number of four or five, 

 are rather pale greenish-blue, normally unmarked, and 

 measure on an average about o 85 by 0.60. Neither the 

 nest nor the egg is distinguishable with certainty from 

 that of the Hermit. The departure of the birds in 

 the fall is prompt, the movement beginning early in 

 September, and being concluded in the fore part of the 

 following month. 



MOCKING-BIRD. 



MiMUS POLYGLOTTUS (Z.) Boi'e. 



Chars. Above, ashy-gray ; below, dull white ; wings and tail black- 

 ish, the former marked with large white spaces on the primary 

 quills, and across the ends of the coverts, the outer tail-feathers 

 entirely white, the next pair (one or more) tipped with white. 

 Bill and feet black, the former often pale at base below ; soles 

 dull yellowish. The male is known from the female by the supe- 

 rior size, and greater extent and purity of the white markings on 

 the wings and tail. Young birds are brownish-gray above, and 

 speckled below. Length of male about 10.00, but ranging from 

 9.50 to 11.00; extent, 13.00-15.00; wing, 4.00-4.50 ; tail, 4.50- 

 5.00; bill, 0.75; tarsus, 1.25. 



The Mocking-bird is practically restricted in its 

 northward extension to the Carolinian Fauna, and has 

 but once been observed beyond Massachusetts, where, 



