206 
these species is a sufficient and crushing answer to the charge that there 
are no song birds in America. 
703. Mockingbird. FR.—LA GRIVE poLyGoTTE. Mimus polyglottos. L, 10-50. 
A large Catbird in appearance without black cap or red under the tail; almost white below 
and with large amounts of white in wing and tail. 
Distinctions. The above characters will separate the Mockingbird from the Catbird. 
It closely resembles the Shrikes in coloration but is without the conspicuous black patch 
across the eyes. 
Field Marks. General greyness and white patches on wing and tail with absence of 
black face mask. 
Nesting. In thickets of coarse twigs and weed stalks in nests lined with rootlets and 
shreds of cotton. 
Distribution. Southern United States north into Canada at the western end of 
lake Erie. This is the only locality where the species has obtained what approaches an 
Sahin foothold in Canada. <A few pairs have been known to summer there for the 
ast decade. 
SUBSPECIES. The Mockingbird is divided into southeastern and southwestern 
forms—the former, the common Mockingbird, the type race of the species, being the 
only subspecies to be expected in Canada. 
The species is rare in Canada. It is very similar to the Catbird and 
most of what is said of that species applies with even greater force to the 
Mockingbird, for it is in many ways only a glorified Catbird and is prob- 
ably the finest native singer in America. 
704. Catbird. FR.—LA GRIVE DE LA CAROLINE. Dumetella carolinensis. L, 8-94. 
Plate XLIV B. 
Distinctions. This evenly grey bird can be confused only with the Mockingbird 
and the black cap, red undertail coverts, and lack of white on wing, tail, or below are 
distinctive. 
Field Marks. Even grey colour; black cap and call-notes, especially the cat-like 
‘“meouw” from which the bird derives its name. 
Nesting. In thickets or densely foliaged shrubs in nest of twigs, grasses, and leaves 
ined with rootlets. 
Distribution. Eastern North America; in Canada including most of the more densely 
settled sections. 
Though inferior to the Mockingbird the Catbird at its best takes a 
high position as a songster, though there is much individual variation in the 
excellence of its efforts. Its usual call-note like a cat’s meouw, which it 
utters in the brush while it curiously investigates the human intruder, is 
well known to most country frequenters and by some queer twist of 
psychology has aroused a prejudice against it. 
It is a frequenter of thickets and, like many other species frequenting 
such habitats where close observation can be made of dangerous objects 
with a minimum of danger to the concealed observer, its curiosity is well 
developed. On some tall spray rising out of the tangle it sits in the bright 
sun with its tail depressed and body held low to the perch, and pours out a 
medley of song. Phrase follows phrase in rapid succession and snatches of 
all the bird songs of the neighbourhood are intermixed with occasional 
harsher, mechanical sounds which are given with as much gusto as the 
more melodious ones. The Catbird is a most desirable neighbour. 
Economic Status. The Catbird lives largely upon fruit in season, of 
which perhaps a third can be regarded as cultivated, but many insects are 
also taken. The fruits are small, soft varieties and it is very seldom if ever 
that perceptible damage is done. 
