PASSERES — MERULID^E — ORPHEUS. 69 



THE CAT-BIRD. 

 Orpheus carolinensis. 



PLATE XXXIX. FIG. 85 (Male). 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Muscicapa carolinensis. Linnaeus, Sys£. Nat. 



Tardus lividus, Cat-bird. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 90, pi. 14, fig. 3. 



T.felivox, Vieillot. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 75. Audubon, folio, pi. 128; Orn. Biog. Vol. 2, 



p. 171, and Vol. 5, p. 440. Nuttall, Manual Orn. Vol. 1, p. 332, figure. 

 Orpheus felivox. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 192. 

 The Cat-bird. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 2, p. 195, pi. 140 (malo and female). 

 Black-capped Thrush, O. carolinensis. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 85. 



Characteristics. Deep slate ; beneath paler. Vent rufous. Crown and tail black. Length, 

 9 inches. 



Description. Bill compressed on the sides, with rather an acute ridge above ; the tip 

 slightly bent. Notch near the tip, very minute : at the corners of the mouth, 2-4 rigid 

 bristles directed forwards. Wings short, from two to two and a half inches shorter than the 

 tail. Nostrils basal, nearly closed above by a membrane, and partly concealed by feathers. 

 Fourth and fifth primaries subequal, longest. 



Color, as given above : bill black ; feet blackish brown. Occasional piebald varieties 

 have been seen. Young : feathers of the vent simply tinged with reddish. 



Length, 9-0. Alar extent, 12-0. 



This familiar bird ranges from Mexico to the 54th degree of north latitude, where it was 

 seen by Richardson. It arrives in this State at the beginning or middle of April, according 

 to the temperature of the season. It lays 4-5 unspotted greenish eggs. Food, berries, 

 worms, wasps and other insects. One of our most useful birds, but usually doomed to per- 

 secution and death by thoughtless ignorance. Its notes are eminently beautiful, although few 

 suppose it capable of emitting any other sound than the harsh and discordant mew which has 

 given rise to its trivial name. I see no reason for following the modern writers in altering its 

 linnean specific appellation. 



(EXTRA-L1M1TAL.) 



O, monlanus. (Aud. B. of A. pi. 139.) Greyish brown: tips of secondary coverts, edges of quills, 

 and a large spot at the end of the three outer tail-feathers, white ; light colored beneath, with arrow- 

 headed spots. Length, 8 inches. Rocky mountains. 



