148 THRUSH. 



exceed even the Nightingale in song, exerting itself the greater part 

 of the night, perched on the top of a tree or chimney; besides which, 

 it has the faculty of imitating the notes of others, which it far 

 exceeds in melody ; when raised from the nest, the usual price of a 

 good one is from seven to fifteen, or even twenty dollars; will breed 

 in confinement, instances of which are given. This and the next 

 are thought to be one and the same, and the size only accidental. 



194 —MOCKING THRUSH. 



Turdus Orpheus, Ind. Orn. i. 339. Lin. i. 293. Gtn. Lin.'u 813. Klein, p. 80. 27. 



(Sylvia) Vieill. Am. ii. p. 12. pi. 68.* 

 Mimus, Bris. ii. 262. Id. 8vo. i. 231. 

 Avis polyglotta, Will. 305. 

 Moqueur, Buf. iii. 325 ? 

 Centcontlatolli, Rail, 159. 



Le Pepoaza couronne, Voy. d'Azara, iii. No. 202 ? 



Lesser Mocking-bird, Edw. pi. 78. Brown, Jam. 469. Shaw's Zool. x. 212. pi. 20. 

 Mocking Thrush, Gen. Syn. iii. 41. Will. Engl. 294. 



SOMEWHAT less than the last ; length eight inches and a half. 

 Bill blackish brown, with some bristles at the base ; irides yellow 

 brown; upper parts of the body brownish ash-colour; the under 

 very pale, nearly white ; through the eye passes a kind of wreath, 

 from the gape to the hindhead ; and over the eyes a pale line ; tail 

 a little cuneiform; the six middle feathers even, four inches and a half 

 long ; the two outer shorter ; the exterior three inches only ; colour 

 dusky brown, except the outer feathers, which are wholly white, 

 and the second white on the outer web ; legs black. 



Inhabits the warmer parts of America, Jamaica, and other Islands, 

 like the last; it has a fine, varied note ; also imitating that of other 

 birds. 



* M. Vieillot is of opinion that the three last form but one species. 



