50 NORTFT AMi:RI('A>r lURDS. 



inanifestcd in tliis iinincnso scM'ics is iviilly snrin'isini,' ; we, ciiii discover 

 111) (liili'ri'iico of color tlint dons not iU'ImmkI on ii;,'<', sex, sciison, or the 

 individual (tIioiij;li tlic Viiiiiitions of tlic latter kind are exct'cdinuly rare, 

 and when noticed, very sliylit). Altlioiii,di tlio avera.i^c of Wcstci'U six'ci- 

 nicns have! sli^liily loiii^cr tails tlian Eastern, a Florida example (No. 

 r)4,8r)(),(?. Enterprise, Kelt. 1!»), lias a tail as loiij,' as that of the htngest- 

 tailed Western one (Xo. 8,1(15, Fort Vnina, (!ila Kivcr, Dec). Specimens 

 from Colima, Mirador, Orizaba, and Mazatlan are (juite identical with 

 Northern ones. 



Hahit.s. The ^[ockin,i,'-T>ird is distributed on the Atlantic coast, from 

 ^rassachnsetts to Florida, and is also found to the I'acific. On the latter 

 coast it exhibits cinlain vaiiatiuus in forms, but hardly cniuugh to se])arate it 

 as a distinct sjiecics. It is liy no means a common bird in New Enyhind, 

 but instances of its breedinj,' as far north as Sjiringiield, Mass, are of con- 

 stant occnrrcMice, and a single individual was seen by Mr. I'oardman near 

 Calai.s, ^[e. It is met witli every year, more or less frequently, on Long 

 Island, and is more common, but l»y no means abundant, in New Jersey. It 

 is found abundantly in every Southern State, and throughout Mexico. It 

 has also been taken near drinnell, Towa. 



A warm climate, a low country, and the vicinity of the sea ap]iear to be 

 most congenial to their nature. "Wilson found them less numerous west of 

 the Alleghany than on the eastern side, in the same jiarallels. Throughout 

 the winter he met with them in the Southern States, feeding on the berries of 

 the red cedar, myrtle, holly, etc., with wiiich tlie swampy tliickcts abounded. 

 They feed also upon winged insects, -which they are very expert in catching. 

 In Louisiana they remain throughout the entire year, approaching farm- 

 houses and plantations in the winter, and living about the gardens and out- 

 liou.ses. They may be fre(|uently .seen jierched ujion the roofs of houses and 

 on the chimney-tops, and are always full of life and animation. AVlien the 

 weather is mild the old males may be heard singing with as much sjiirit as 

 in tlie sjiring or summer. They are much more familiar than in the more 

 northern States. In (Jeorgia they do not begin to sing until Febi'uary. 



Tlie vocal powers of the Mocking-Bird exceed, both in their imitative 

 notes and in their natural song, those of any other s])ecies. Their voice is 

 full, strong, and musical, and caj)al)le of an almost endless variation in niod- 

 idation. The M'ild scream of the P^agle and the .soft notes of the IJluebird 

 are repeated with exactness and with apjiarently e(pial i'acility, while both in 

 force and .sweetness the Mockiiig-liird will often imin-ove upon tlie originaL 



The song' of the IMockiiig-Uird is not albigetlier imitative. His natural 

 notes are bold, rich, and full, and are varieil almost without limitation. 

 They are frequently interspersed with imitations, and both are uttered with 

 a rajiidity and eiii|diasis tliat can liardly be equalled. 



The Mocking-lhrd readily becomes accustomed to confinement, and loses 

 little of the [lower, energy, or variety of its song, but oi'ten much of its sweet- 



