THE MOCKINGBIRD. 251 



Yet he too has his Httle pleasures. One bug is not quite like another in 

 bugginess, so that any bark rift may render up some entomological curiosity 

 rare of form and gustable of juice. And when the lush days of springtime 

 come, even this understrapper gets giddy and rushes out into space, jerking 

 hither and thither in an aerial frenzy and cutting the most absurd figures; 

 after which he comes back to his bark, beaming and panting, and expecting 

 the plaudits of an admiring world. This spirited performance proves highly 

 satisfactory to at least one witness, and prepares the way for that domestic joy- 

 in the Northland, which is not denied the humblest, and which Ijfts all mortals 

 to an equal plane. 



While with us the Creeper rarely sings, and its ordinary notes, chip and 

 fsccp, tseep, or "creep, creep, cree, crcc," require careful distinction from 

 those of the Golden-crowned Kinglet ; but in its breeding haunts it is said to 

 have a delicate and pleasing song. « 



No. no. 



MOCKINGBIRD. 



A. O. U. Xo. 703. Mimus polyglottos (Linn.). 



Description. — Adults: Upper parts ashy gray, sometimes with a brownish 

 tinge ; wings and tail dusky on exposed portions, with faint, grayish edging ; pri- 

 maries, except outer one, and secondaries broadly white at base, — the former nearly, 

 and the latter entirely, concealed by the greater coverts, which are white with 

 narrow blackish tips ; also some edging on middle coverts and tertials ; the outer 

 pair of tail-feathers almost entirely, the next largely (on inner web), the next 

 pair or pairs touched with, white ; under parts soiled white, sometimes dingy or 

 brownish, especially behind; bill black; feet dark. Young: Similar to adult, but 

 browner above; speckled with dusky below. Length 9.00-1 1. 00 (228.6-279.4); 

 wing 4.45 (113.); tail 4.80 (121. 9); bill .70 (17.8). Quite variable in all its 

 . dimensions. Female averages a little smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size ; a gray bird with a long tail, and exhibit- 

 ing much white on wing in flight ; unmistakable. 



Nest, of twigs, weed-stalks, and trash, lined with rootlets, plant-down, hair, 

 etc., placed at lower levels in thickets, orchard trees, etc. Eggs, 4-6, bluish white, 

 greenish blue, or, rarely, buffy, spotted or blotched, chiefly near the larger end, 

 with yellowish brown, cinnamon-brown or chestnut. Variable in size. Average 

 .98 x .72 (24.9 X 18.3). 



General Range. — United States south into Mexico. Rare or irregular north 

 of about latitude 38°. Bahamas. 



