240 The Mocking Bird. 



THE MOCKING BIRD. 



{Turdus polyglottus, Lin. Wilson, ii. p. 13. pi. 10. fig. I.Audubon, pL 

 21. [a s[)iritetl group and nest attacked by a rattlesnake.] Orpheus po- 

 lyglottus, SwAiNSON. Philad. Museum, No. 5288. 



Specific Characters. — Cinereous; beneath whitish; tips of the wing- 

 coverts, primaries at base, and lateral tail-feathers, white; tail cunei- 

 form. 



This unrivalled Orpheus of the forest, and natural wonder of 

 America, inhabits the whole continent, from the state of Rhode 

 Island to the larger isles of the West Indies, and continuing through 

 the equatorial regions, is found in the southern hemisphere as far 

 as Brazil. Nor is it at all confined to the Eastern or Atlantic 

 states. It also exists in the wild territory of Arkansa more than a 

 thousand miles from the mouth of Red River. It breeds at the 

 distant western sources of the Platte, near the very base of the 

 Rocky mountains;* and Mr. Bullock saw it in the table land of 

 Mexico. The mocking bird rears its young, and consequently 

 displays its wonderful powers, in all the intermediate regions of its 

 residence in the United States to the peninsula of Florida. f It 

 appears, in short, permanently to inhabit the milder regions of the 

 western world in either hemisphere ;| and the individuals bred 

 north of the Delaware, on this side the equator, are all that ever 

 migrate from their summer residence. A still more partial migra- 

 tion takes place also, probably, from west to east, in quest of the 

 food and shelter which the maritime districts afford. Though now 

 so uncommon in that vicinity, fifty or sixty years ago, according 

 to Bartram, they even wintered near Philadelphia, and made a 

 temporary abode in the mantling ivy of his venerable mansion. 

 In summer, a few proceed as far as Rhode Island, following the 

 mild temperature of the sea coast; but further north, they are, I 

 believe, nearly unknown, except rarely and occasionally in Massa- 

 chusetts. With the advance of the season, also, in the country 

 vvliich it inhabits, varies the time of incubation. Early in April 

 they begin to build in the maritime parts of Georgia, but not before 

 the middle of May in Pennsylvania. 



In the winter season they chiefly subsist on berries, particularly 

 those of the Virginia juniper (called red cedar,) wax myrtle, hol- 

 ly, smilax, sumach, sour gum, and a variety of others, which fur- 



* Mr, Say. t Mr. Ware. 



J Mr. Litchfield informs me, that the song of the mocking bird is com- 

 monly heard in Venezuela, where of course it breeds and permanently 

 resides. 



