Nests in Trees, Bushes, or Vines 



703. Mocking-bird: Mimus polyglottos (Linn.) 



Adult — Upper parts bluish or ashy gray ; under parts buffy or 



grayish white. 



Immature birds have the breast and sides spotted. 



Length — 10.50. 

 Breeding Range — From southern Illinois and New Jersey (rarely 



Massachusetts) southward. 



The nest is built of twigs, strips of bark, fine roots, weeds, 

 and sometimes rags; the lining is of feathers, hair, and fine roots. 

 It is placed either in a tangle of undergrowth or in trees such as 

 the orange, cedar, water oak, etc. The eggs are pale green or 

 buffy gray, with spots and blotches of reddish or yellowish 

 brown. Size — .95 x .70. See Fig. 18, Plate D. 



So well known is the Mocking-bird as a songster that but 

 little need be said of it here. The young are easily reared, but 

 my experience leads me to believe that they are not easily tamed ; 

 those that I have had were nervous and rather wild, and never 

 cared to be handled even when quite young. I am rather sur- 

 prised to see that certain writers speak of the immature mock- 

 ing-bird as being similar to the adults. All those that 1 have 

 reared have kept the spots on the breast until almost four months 

 old. The breeding season begins early in May, and several 

 broods are reared. 



704. Catbird : Caleoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.) 



Adtdt — Upper parts dark slaty gray ; crown and tail dull black ; 



under parts slaty gray ; under tail coverts bright chestnut. 



Length — 8.95. 

 Breeding Range — Throughout the Eastern States. 



The nest is ragged but well made of sticks, leaves, fine roots, 

 weeds, grass, strips of bark, and lined chiefly with fine roots. 

 It is placed in briers or low bushes, usually not more than about 

 seven feet from the ground. The eggs, 3 to s in number, are 

 rather dark greenish blue. Size — .95 x .70. See Fig. 9, Plate D. 



These well-named and well-known birds rank high in the 

 list of our songsters ; their song, which, though small in volume, 

 is full of sweetness, may be heard at almost any time of day 



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