MOCKINGBIBD 



63 



FIG. 27. 



Mockingbird : Mimus polyglottos. 



Body gray, lighter below ; wings and tail blackish, marked 

 with white. Length, 10- inches. 



GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION. Breeds from the Bahamas, Mex- 

 ico, and southern California to southern Illinois and northern 

 New Jersey, and rarely to Massachusetts ; winters from Vir- 

 ginia southward. 



The Mockingbird is a more accomplished cousin 

 of the Catbird. His song has more finish, his 

 technique is better, and when moved by love his 

 lay becomes a wonder of ecstatic melody. " Dur- 

 ing the solemn stillness of the night," Wilson 

 tells us, " as soon as the moon rises in silent 

 majesty, he begins his delightful solo ; and sere- 

 nades us the livelong night with a full display of 

 his vocal powers, making the whole neighborhood 

 ring with his inimitable medley." 



Southerners feel about the Mocker as northern- 



