PERCHING-BIRDS. il9 



included in the genus Cinclus, the most familiar is the Common Dipper 

 (C. aquaticus) (2007), which frequents the more rapid rocky streams in 

 the British Islands and ranges eastwards over Central and Western 

 Europe. 



Family IX. Mimid^e. Mocking-birds. 



The Mocking-birds are an American family allied to the Thrushes [Case 73.] 

 and ranging over the greater part of the New World. The young are 

 mottled, as in the Turdida. Some, like the Common Mocking-bird 

 [Mimus polyglottus) (2014) of the eastern United States, are famous not 

 only for their powers of mimicry, but for the brilliant execution of their 

 natural song, which is rich and varied. Another well-known songster 

 is the Cat-Bird {Galeoscoptes carolinensis) (2017), which, in addition to 

 its attractive song, utters mewing sounds. Leconte's Thrasher {Harpo- 

 rhynchus lecontei) (2028) haunts more arid situations than the species 

 already mentioned, but, like them, places its large nest of sticks &c. in 

 some low tree or thorny bush. The only brightly coloured member of 

 the family is the Rose-breasted Rhodinocichla rosea (2022), found in 

 Colombia and Venezuela. 



Family X. TuRDiDiE. Thrushes. 



The Thrushes, Redstarts, and Chats form a very large family distri- [Case 47.] 

 buted over the whole world and include a number of familiar species, 

 many of them being splendid songsters and favourite cage-birds. Un- 

 like their allies, the Warblers, they have no spring moult, and the 

 young in their first plumage differ from the adult and are always pro- 

 fusely spotted. Many species are migratory. Some of the Thrushes 

 are met with at great elevations, reaching altitudes of 17,000 feet in 

 some latitudes. They feed chiefly on insects and worms, most of their 

 food being procured on the ground, but they are also partial to fruit. 

 Of the nine subfamilies recognised, the first, Myiedestirm includes a 

 number of American forms of somewhat uncertain affinities. The 

 beautiful species of Cochoa (2034), from the Indo-Chinese countries, 

 represent the second subfamily. Of the Turdince or True Thrushes, a 

 number appear on the British list, the Song-Thrush (2000), Mistle- 

 Thrush (2053), Blackbird (2036), and Ring-Ouzel (2056) being breeding 

 species ; the Red-wing (2062) and Fieldfare (2054) regular visitors ; 

 and the Siberian (2065), Black-throated (2055), White's (2045), and 

 Rock- (2063) Thrushes, accidental stragglers. Our common Hedge- 

 Sparrow {Accentor modularis) (2066) is a resident and the Alpine 

 Accentor {A. collaris) (2067) an occasional visitor to Britain, and 



