265 



702. Oroscoptes montanus (Towns.). [10.] Sage Thrasher. 



This is scarcely a bird of the Mississippi Valley, since, as its name 

 implies, its favorite home is in the sage-covered plains of the Great 

 Basin. It is introduced here on account of its occurrence in western 

 Texas, where Mr. Lloyd, at San Angelo, found it an occasional visitant. 

 The species is also migratory, passing north along the Eocky Mount- 

 ains, about to the northern boundary of the United States. 



In the spring of 1885 the first Sage Thrashers (about 20 in number) 

 were reported from San Angelo, Tex., April 1 ; and the last the next 

 day. They were said to be common there during migration. Kecently 

 Mr. Lloyd has published the following concerning the distribution of 

 this species in Texas: "Tolerably common resident in Tom Green 

 County. Winters in Concho County as far east, at least, as Colorado. 

 No eggs found, but I have seen scores of nests." — (The Auk, Vol. IV, 

 1887, p. 297.) 



703. Mimus polyglottos (Linn.). [11.] Mockinglircl. 



The Mocking-bird is a permanent resident in the southern part of the 

 Mississippi Valley. Its migrations are not great. In winter it retires 

 but a short distance south of its northern breeding range, and in spring 

 is rather late in returning. The Gulf States constitute its true winter 

 home, and there it is found in abundance. Many individuals remain 

 much farther north, and are to be seen occasionally during cold weather. 

 In the winter of 1883-84 at Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was seen about half a 

 dozen times ; at Saint Louis, Mo., one was seen January 29, 1884, and 

 even so far north as Burlington, Iowa, it was twice seen during the 

 winter. It is possible that these last were escaped cage birds, but there 

 was nothing in their actions to indicate it. Mocking-birds began to 

 leave winter quarters about the middle of March, 1884, reaching lati- 

 tude 37° March 20, and occupying almost a month in their journey from 

 that point to latitude 39° in Missouri, which they reached April 14. In 

 Kansas, however, it was long delayed. At Manhattan, "in 1883, it ar- 

 rived April 10, but in 1884 cold rains prevented its early appearance, 

 and the first was not seen until May 22, and then only two or three 

 pairs came. Usually it is common." The normal northern limit was 

 reached the first week in May. In the Southern States the song period 

 began about March 1, but it was almost June before the northernmost 

 birds found their voices. North of latitude 40° there are only a few 

 records of the birds' summer residence, and these are in central and 

 southern Iowa. 



In the fall of 1884 the last Mockingbird left Mount Carmel, Mo., Oc- 

 tober 21, while the bulk left October 10. At Shawneetown, 111., a single 

 bird was reported as staying all winter, and at Peoria, 111., the species 

 has been seen in midwinter. At Gainesville, Tex., some Mockingbirds 

 spent the winter of 1884^85. 



In the spring of 1885, at Gainesville, Tex., the number present during 

 winter was increased March 6 by the arrival of the first migrants, and 



