THE MOCKINGBIRD. 251 
Yet he too has his little pleasures. One bug is not quite like another in 
bugginess, so that any bark rift may render up some entomological curiosity 
rare of form and gustable of juice. And when the lush days of springtime 
come, even this understrapper gets giddy and rushes out into space, jerking 
hither and thither in an aerial frenzy and cutting the most absurd figures; 
after which he comes back to his bark, beaming and panting, and expecting 
the plaudits of an admiring world. This spirited performance proves highly 
satisfactory to at least one witness, and prepares the way for that domestic joy 
in the Northland, which is not denied the humblest, and which lifts all mortals 
to an equal plane. 
While with us the Creeper rarely sings, and its ordinary notes, chip and 
tseep, tseep, or “creep, creep, cree, cree,’ require careful distinction from 
those of the Golden-crowned Kinglet; but in its breeding haunts it is said to 
have a delicate and pleasing song. 
No. 110. 
MOCKINGBIRD. 
A. O. U. No. 703. Mimus polyglottos (Linn.). 
Description.— Adults: Upper parts ashy gray, sometimes with a brownish 
tinge ; wings and tail dusky on exposed portions, with faint, grayish edging; pri- 
maries, except outer one, and secondaries broadly white at base,—the former nearly, 
and the latter entirely, concealed by the greater coverts, which are white with 
narrow blackish tips; also some edging on middle coverts and tertials; the outer 
pair of tail-feathers almost entirely, the next largely (on inner web), the next 
pair or pairs touched with, white; under parts soiled white, sometimes dingy or 
brownish, especially behind; bill black; feet dark. Young: Similar to adult, but 
browner above; speckled with dusky below. Length 9.00-11.00 (228.6-279.4) ; 
wing 4.45 (113.); tail 4.80 (121.9); bill .7o (17.8). Quite variable in all its 
dimensions. Female averages a little smaller. 
Recognition Marks.—Robin size; a gray bird with a long tail, and exhibit- 
ing much white on wing in flight; unmistakable. 
Nest, of twigs, weed-stalks, and trash, lined with rootlets, plant-down, hair, 
etc., placed at lower levels in thickets, orchard trees, etc. Hggs, 4-6, bluish white, 
greenish blue, or, rarely, buffy, spotted or blotched, chiefly near the larger end, 
with yellowish brown, cinnamon-brown or chestnut. Variable in size. Average 
.98 X .72 (24.9 x 18.3). 
General Range.— United States south into Mexico. Rare or irregular north 
of about latitude 38°. Bahamas. 
