MO C ICING BIRD. l j 5 



and second rows of coverts tipt with white ; the primary coverts, 

 in some males, are wholly white, in others, tinged with brown. 

 The three first primaries are white from their roots as far as 

 their coverts ; the white on the next six extends from an inch 

 to one and three-fourths farther down, descending equally on 

 both sides of the feather ; the tail is cuneiform, the two exterior 

 feathers wholly white, the rest, except the middle ones, tipt with 

 white ; the chin is white ; sides of the neck, breast, belly, and 

 vent, a brownish white, much purer in wild birds than in those 

 that have been domesticated ; iris of the eye, yellowish cream 

 coloured, inclining to golden ; bill, black, the base of the 

 lower mandible, whitish ; legs and feet, black, and strong. 

 The female very much resembles the male ; what difference 

 there is, has been already pointed out in a preceding part of 

 this account. The breast of the young bird is spotted like 

 that of the thrush.* 



Mr William Bart ram observes of the mocking bird, that 

 "formerly, say thirty or forty years ago, they were numerous, 

 and often stayed all winter with us, or the year through, feed- 

 ing on the berries of ivy, smilax, grapes, persimmons, and 

 other berries. The ivy (Hedera helix) they were particularly 

 fond of, though a native of Europe. We have an ancient plant 

 adhering to the wall of the house, covering many yards of 

 surface ; this vine is very fruitful, and here many would 

 feed and lodge during the winter, and, in very severe cold 

 weather, sit on the top of the chimney to warm themselves." 

 He also adds, " I have observed that the mocking bird ejects 



* A bird is described in tbe "Northern Zoology" as the varied 

 thrush of Pennant, the Turdus ncevius of Latham, which will rank 

 as an addition to the North American species of this genus, and 

 has been named by Mr Swainson 0. meruloicles, thrush-like mocking 

 bird. Mr Swainson has changed the name of Latham, to give it 

 one expressive of its form, as he considers the structure intermediate 

 between Orpheus and Turdus, though leaning most to the former. 

 According to Dr Richardson, it was discovered by Captain Cook 

 at Nootka Sound, and described by Latham from these speci- 

 mens. — Ed. 



