CAT BIRD. 19 



the right place and with charming exactness. He not only mimicked other birds but excelled 

 them, and after we had heard him their individual efforts seemed quite tame and spiritless. The 

 bird seemed unconscious of his merits, for he sat carelessly on a tree top, occasionally pausing in 

 the midst of it all to arrange his feathers, or he would fly from place to place without interrupting 

 his musical carol. There were several in the vicinity, and they were all in full song, so there 

 was scarcely any time during the day, though the heat was excessive, that we did not hear at 

 least one of them. After these repeated cantatas we could no longer doubt the vocal superiority 

 of the Florida .Mocking Birds, for we had never before listened to such melody from feathered 

 throats, and it became plainly evident that all other species must yield the palm to this, the 

 King of Song. 



MIMITS CABOLINENSIS. 



Cat Bird. 

 Mining carolinensis GRAY, Genera, 1844-49. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cir. Form, rather slender. Bill, slender, gently curved. Scutella on anterior tarsi in adult specimens 

 fused into a continuous plate. Sternum, rather weaker than that of the preceding species, in comparison to its size, 

 but of the sunn* relative proportions. 



COLOR. A<Inlt. Prevailing color, dark plumbeous, lighter beneath. Crown, nape, and upper part of tail, sooty 

 black, the outer edges of the latter are edged with plumbeous. Quills and secondaries, very dark brown, also edged 

 with plumbeous. Under tail coverts, chestnut. Bill, black. Iris and feet, brown. 



;/, similar to the adult, with the crown lighter, especially at the base of bill. The under tail coverts 

 arc streaked with ashy. Sexes, similar in all stages. 



<'j in the. nesting plumaije, every way paler, especially the chestnut of the under tail coverts. There is also 

 a tinge of reddish on the upper wing coverts. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Tliis well known species may be readily distinguished from all others by the above descriptions. Specimens 

 from Key West are not only smaller in size, but much darker in color, the top of the head being entirely black. 

 Found during the breeding season throughout the United States; winters in great numbers in Florida, the West 

 Indies and Central America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty-five specimens from Florida. Length, 8-14; stretch, 11-82; wing, 3-59; tail, 

 3-71; bill, -74; tarsus, 1-11. Longest specimen, 9-00; greatest stretch of wings, 11-57; greatest length of wing, 

 3-84; of tail, 4-00; of bill, -85; of tarsus, 1-23. Shortest specimen, 8-25 ; smallest stretch of wings, 10-10; shortest 

 wins.'. :?-:lu: tail. :', -:10; bill, -60; tarsus, 1-01. 



Average measurements of nine specimens from New England. Length, 8-91 ; stretch, 11-73; wing, 3-49; tail, 

 3-82; bill, -G3; tarsus, 1-07. Longest specimen, 9-35; greatest stretch of wings, 12-00; greatest length of wing, 

 3-82; of tail, 4-00; of bill, -65; of tarsus, 1-10. Shortest specimen, 8-45; smallest stretch of wings, 11-26; shortest 

 winir. 3-30: tail, 8-CO; bill, -60; tarsus, 1-05. 



It will be observed by the measurements given, that, although Florida specimens are smaller in size, the wings, 

 bills, and feet are somewhat larger. In this they agree with all other species which occur as residents both north 

 and south. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nest, composed of leaves, grape-vine bark, and weeds, lined with fine roots. Dimensions. External diameter, 

 Cinches; internal, 3-50 inches. External depth, 3-50 inches ; internal, 2 inches. 



Eygs, four or five in number, rather pointed, and deep green in color. Dimensions, from -90x-GO to -95x-75. 



HABITS. 



Nearly every one in the eastern section of the United States is familiar with this species ; 

 and it is one, among a few, that is known by the same name throughout that portion of the country 

 in which it occurs. This is owing solely to a peculiar alarm note, which bears a strong 

 n semblance to the mewing of a cat. This sound is only emitted when the bird perceives an 

 enemy : then, if it docs not apprehend much danger, the mew is given quite plaintively ; while 

 it hops quietly from bough to bough, and peers through the bushes in an inquisitive manner. 



