TROGLODYTID.E. CLXXV. 307 



scolding. Part of them (Cistothorus) live in reedy swamps and 

 marshes, where they hang astonishingly big globular nests, with a 

 little hole on one side, on tufts of rushes, and lay six or eight dark- 

 colored eggs ; the others nest anywhere." (Cowes.) To the Mi- 

 mince belongs the first of song-birds, the mocking-bird. All of the 

 Troglodytinas and Mimince are plainly colored, being chiefly brown. 

 All are insectivorous, and most of them migratory. Genera about 

 23, species 150, most abundant in tropical America. 



a. Bill with bristles at the rictus; inner toe free to the base. Mockers. (Mi- 

 mince.) 



b. Tail longer than wing. 

 c. Bill shorter than middle toe without claw ; bill notched at tip. 



d. Tarsal scutella distinct; (tail with white) MIMUS, 520. 



dd. Tarsal scutella indistinct; (tail without white). 



GALEOSCOPTES, 521. 

 cc. Bill not shorter than middle toe with claw, often decurved; bill 



scarcely notched at tip HARPORHYNCHUS, 522. 



aa. Bill not notched, without evident bristles at the rictus ; inner toe some- 

 what joined at base to middle; nostril with a small scale. Wrens. 

 (Troglodytince.) 

 f. Outer tail feathers reaching decidedly beyond tips of longest lower 



coverts ; (back without lengthwise streaks). 

 g. Bill rather stout, somewhat decurved at tip ; (back without cross-bars ; 



superciliary streak distinct) THRYOTHORUS, 523. 



gg. Bill more slender, straight or slightly decurved ; (back with cross-bars 

 more or less distinct; no distinct superciliary stripe). 



TROGLODYTES, 524. 



ff. Outer tail-feathers reaching little beyond tips of lower coverts ; (back 

 streaked lengthwise) CISTOTHORUS, 525. 



520. MIMUS Boie. (Lat., mimic.) 



998. M. polyglottos (L.). MOCKING - BIRD. Ashy brown 

 above, nearly white below ; wings blackish, with white wing bars ; 

 tail blackish, outer feathers white ; 9 "^h I GSS white. L. 9^. W. 

 4. T. 5. U. S., chiefly southerly ; N. to Mass., Iowa, etc. A 

 famous singer, easily first among birds in the range and variety of 

 its notes. (VoXus, many ; yXayrra, tongue.) 



521. GALEOSCOFTES Cabanis. (ya\rj, weasel ; O-ACCDTTTJ;^ 

 mocker.) 



999. G. carolinensis (L.). CAT-BIRD. Dark slate color; 

 crown and tail black; crissum chestnut. L. 8|. W. 3|. T. 4. 

 N. Am., generally common ; a fine singer. 



522. HARPORHYNCHUS Cabanis. (Spirrj, sickle ; pvy X os, * 



bill, true of the typical species.) 



a. Tarsus longer than bill ; lower parts spotted and streaked. (Methriopterus 

 Reichenbach.) 



1000. H. rufus (L.). BROWN THRUSH. THRASHER. Cinna- 



