188 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



The Common Wren of Europe closely corresponds 

 to this species. It is popularly known as "Jenny 

 Wren" and is a favourite character in the folk-lore of 

 England. See Plate 13, Fig. 68. 



Other familiar American species are the Winter 

 Wren, the Carolina Wren and the Marsh Wren. 



This great family embraces not only the typical 

 Wrens, but the Mocking-birds, the Catbirds and the 

 Thrashers. 



Among the song-birds of America the Mocking- 

 bird easily takes first place, its wonderful vocal pow- 

 ers being equalled only by those of the celebrated 

 Nightingale of Europe. Not only are its own notes 

 remarkably melodious, but it has the ability to imitate 

 closely the voices of other birds as well as many other 

 sounds in Nature. See Plate 42, Fig. 247. 



In colour the Mocking-bird is ashy above, darken- 

 ing on wings and tail and paling to dingy white below. 

 The lower half of the quill-feathers of the wings is 

 white, and some of the tail-feathers are also marked 

 with white. The sexes are almost undistinguishable 

 in colour, though the male has a little more white in 

 the plumage. 



These birds are very common in our southern 

 States. They show little fear of man and are often 

 seen in city streets and parks. Mocking-birds sing 

 morning and evening, and on moonlight nights are 

 frequently heard all night. They build clumsy-look- 

 ing nests in low trees, not far from the groimd, and in 

 thickets, and the eggs are greenish, spotted thickly 

 with brown. 



While not equalling the Mocking-bird in musical 



