MIMUS— SYNONYMY OF M. POLYGLOTTUS 55 



Genus MIMUS Boie 



Chars. — Bill much shorter than the head, scarcely curved 

 as a whole, but with gently curved commissure, notched 

 near the end. Eictal vibrisste well developed. Tail rathew 

 longer than the wings, rounded, the lateral feathers being con- 

 siderably graduated. Wings rounded. Tarsal scutella some- 

 times obsolete. Tarsi longer than the middle toe and claw. 



Of this genus, there are two well marked sections, represented 

 by the Mockingbird and Catbird respectively. These may be 

 most conveniently distinguished by color: — 



Mimus. — Above ashy-brown, below white; lateral tail- 

 feathers and bases of primaries white. (Tarsal scutella always 

 distinct.) 



Galeoseoptes. — Blackish-ash, scarcely paler below; crown and 

 tail black, unvaried; crissum rufous. (Tarsal scutella some- 

 times obsolete.) 



The Mockingbird 



Mimns polyglottns 



Turdns polfglOttOS, L. SN. i. lOth ed. 1758, 169, no. 7 (baaed on Sloane, ii. 306, pi. 256, f. 3 ; 

 Gates, i. 87; Kalm, ii. 335); 12th ed. 1766, 293, no. 10 (includeB other spp. or vars.).— 

 Bp. Journ. Phila. Acad. iv. 1824, 32 (critical).— Bp. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ii. 1826, 74. 



TnrdUS poIyglOttUS, Gm. SN. i. 1788, 612.— Zari. 10. i. 1790, 339.— Turt. SN. i. 1806, 493.— 

 mis. AO. ii. 1810, 14, pi. 10, f. l.—Fox, Newc. Mus. 1827, 150.— Xcss. Tr. Orn. 1831, 

 410.— Aud. OB. i. 1831, 108, pi. 21.—Niat. Man. i. 1832, 320.— Pea6. Rep. Cm. Mass. 1839, 

 300 (rare).— ffaym. Pr. Phila. Acad. viii. 1856, 289.— Gossf, Alabama, 1859, 47.— Gieii. 

 Vog. 1860, 37, f. 85. 



Mimus polfglOttUS, SoU, Isis, 1826, 972,— Bp. C. &. GL. 1838, 17.— GamS. Pr. Phila. Acad, 

 ui. 1846, 114 (California).— Bp. CA. i. 1850, Sie.—McCaU, Pr. Phila. Acad. v. 1851, 216 

 (Texas).— BttrneH, Pr.Bost. Soc. iv. 1851, 116.— Hoy, Pr. Phila. Acad. vi. 1853, 309 (Wis- 

 consin) Reed, Pr. Phila. Acad. vi. 1853, 398 (Ohio).— Woo*!. Expl. Zufii E. 1853, 72.— 



Kennic. Tr. Illinois Agric. Soc. i. 1855, 582 (Illinois).— iKn^ersS. J. f. O. 1856, 69 (in 

 captivity).— Sc!. PZS. 1857, 212 (Orizaba).— Maxim. J. f. O. vi. 1858, 179.— BA BNA. 

 1858, 344.— Sd. PZS. 1859, 340 (critical).- Henry, Pr. Phila. Acad. xi. 1859, 106 (New 

 Mexico).— BoiVd, Pr. Phila. Acad. xi. 1859, 303.—Kenn. PRRR. x. 1859, 25.— Hecrm. 

 PRRR. X. 1859, U.— Wheat, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 1861, 365, no. 115 (Ohio).— Barre. 

 Smiths. Rep. for 1860, 1861, 436 (Pennsylvania).- (7o!«s trPrent. Smiths. Rep. for 1861, 

 1862, 410 (Washington ; rare).— Sc(. Cat, AB. 1862, B.-Tayl. Ibis, 1862, 128 (Florida).- 

 Bd. Rev. AB. 1864, 4d.— Allen, Pr. Essex Inst. iv. 1864, 67 (MasBachusetts- northern 

 limit).— Hoy, Smiths. Rep. for 1864, 1865, 437 (Missouri).— Bry. Pr. Bost. Soc. ix. 1865, 

 372.— CoMCB, Ibis, 1865, 159 (New Mexico).— Dress. Ibis, 1865, 481 (Texas).— Ooaes, Pr. 

 Phila. Acad, xviii. 1866, 65 (Fort Whipple, Ariz.).— ioicr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vUi. 1866, 

 282 (New York).— Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii. 1868, 107 (South Carolina, resident).— Bulc/i. 

 Pr. Phila. Acad. xx. 1868, 149 (Laredo, Tex.).— Coaes, Pr. Essex Inst. v. 1868, 267 (New 

 EaglanA).— Allen, Mem. Bost. Soc. i. 1868, 523 (Indiana).— Siimic*. Mem. Bost. Soc. i. 

 1869, 543 (Vera Cruz; (3ulf coast up to plateau, breeding at Orizaba). — rarai). B. E. Pa. 

 1869,22; Phila. ed. 15.— Stearns, Am. Nat. iii. 1869, WS.—Coop. B. Gal. i. 1870, 21.— 

 Mayn. Nat. Guide, 1670, 92 (Massachusetts).- ^2!. Bull. MCZ. ii. 1671, 259 (Florida, 



