/\OCKINGBIRDS: THRASHERS. 
Miminae. 
| HOUGH not in accordance with the new system of our American 
Ornithologists’ Union,—which, however, should be universally 
adopted—I nevertheless treat of the Mockingbirds immediately 
after the true Thrushes. All the members of this subfamily are 
birds which, in many respects, bear a strong resemblance to the 
Wrens both in their structure and habits. On the other hand their mode 
of life and their vocal powers remind one of the true Thrushes. They 
are all slender, long-tailed, very ative birds. They usually keep near 
the ground, and some of them, like the Thrashers, are decidedly terres- 
trial, as indicated by their strong feet.* The bill is sometimes as straight 
as that of the typical Thrushes, but in other cases it is very strong and 
sickle-shaped. The wings are usually short and somewhat rounded, 
generally much shorter than the tail. There are hair-like bristles at the 
base of the bill. The fine soft plumage exhibits no loud coloring but is 
rich notwithstanding its dullness of tint, and differs but little in birds of different 
seasons, age, and sex. This subfamily of birds is represented by many species, principally 
in the tropics, but hardly ranges beyond the northern limits of our territory. They are 
all insectivorous but also feed on various soft fruits. In contradiction to the typical 
Thrushes, which are really forest birds, the Mocking-Thrushes inhabit the shrubbery, 
cactus-thickets, forests margined with thickets and woody twiners, and gardens planted 
with ornamental shrubbery, such as the various kinds of upright and twining honey- 
suckles, weigelias, gooseberry bushes, mock-oranges, evergreens, &c. They never take 
to the dark interior of woods destitute of underwood. They usually pass much of their 
time on or near the ground. The bulky nests are generally built in bushes, never high 
above the ground. The eggs, five and even six in number, are commonly spotted; only 
two species: the Catbird and the Crissal Thrasher, lay uniformly bluish green eggs. The 
* See Dr. E. Coues’ “Birds of the Colorado Valley” p. 47—75, 
