206 



these species is a sufficient and crushing answer to the charge that there 

 are no song birds in America. 



703. Mockingbird, fr. — la grive poltootte. Mimus polyglottos. L, 10-50. 

 A large Catbird in appearance without black cap or red under the tail; almost white below 

 and with large amounts of white in wing and tail. 



Distinctions. The above characters will separate the Mockingbird from the Catbird. 

 It closely resembles the Shrikes in coloration but is without the conspicuous black patch 

 across the eyes. 



Field Marks. General greyness and white patches on wing and tail with absence of 

 black face mask. 



Nesting. In thickets of coarse twigs and weed stalks in nests lined with rootlets and 

 shreds of cotton. 



Distribution. Southern United States north into Canada at the western end of 

 lake Erie. This is the only locality where the species has obtained what approaches an 

 established foothold in Canada. A few pairs have been known to summer there for the 

 last decade. 



SUBSPECIES. The Mockingbird is divided into southeastern and southwestern 

 forms — the former, the common Mockingbird, the type race of the species, being the 

 only subspecies to be expected in Canada. 



The species is rare in Canada. It is very similar to the Catbird and 

 most of what is said of that species applies with even greater force to the 

 Mockingbird, for it is in many ways only a glorified Catbird and is prob- 

 ably the finest native singer in America. 



704. Catbird, fr. — la grive de la Caroline. Dumetella carolinensis. L, 8-94. 

 Plate XLIV B. 



Distinctions. This evenly grey bird can be confused only with the Mockingbird 

 and the black cap, red undertail coverts, and lack of white on wing, tail, or below are 

 distinctive. 



Field Marks. Even grey colour; black cap and call-notes, especially the cat-like 

 "meouw" from which the bird derives its name. 



Nesting. In thickets or densely foliaged shrubs in nest of twigs, grasses, and leaves 

 ined with rootlets. 



Distribution. Eastern North America; in Canada including most of the more densely 

 settled sections. 



Though inferior to the Mockingbird the Catbird at its best takes a 

 high position as a songster, though there is much individual variation in the 

 excellence of its efforts. Its usual call-note like a cat's meouw, which it 

 utters in the brush while it curiously investigates the human intruder, is 

 well known to most country frequenters and by some queer twist of 

 psychology has aroused a prejudice against it. 



It is a frequenter of thickets and, like many other species frequenting 

 such habitats where close observation can be made of dangerous objects 

 with a minimum of danger to the concealed observer, its curiosity is well 

 developed. On some tall spray rising out of the tangle it sits in the bright 

 sun with its tail depressed and body held low to the perch, and pours out a 

 medley of song. Phrase follows phrase in rapid succession and snatches of 

 all the bird songs of the neighbourhood are intermixed with occasional 

 harsher, mechanical sounds which are given with as much gusto as the 

 more melodious ones. The Catbird is a most desirable neighbour. 



Economic Status. The Catbird lives largely upon fruit in season, of 

 which perhaps a third can be regarded as cultivated, but many insects are 

 also taken. The fruits are small, soft varieties and it is very seldom if ever 

 that perceptible damage is done. 



