24 



MOCKING-BIRD. 



of company as possible, and strangers rarely allowed to disturb or 

 even approach them. 



The Mocking-bird is nine and a half inches long, and thir- 

 teen in breadth. Some individuals are however larger and some 

 smaller, those of the first hatch being uniformly the biggest and 

 stoutest.* The upper parts of the head, neck and back, are a dark, 

 brownish ash ; and when new moulted, a fine light grey ; the wings 

 and tail are nearly black, the first 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, de- 

 scending equally on both sides of the feather ; the tail is cimeiform, 

 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 

 colored, inclining to golden; bill black, the base of the lower man- 

 dible 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 Bartram observes of the Mocking-bird, that "for- 

 " merly, say thirty or forty years ago, they were numerous, and 

 " often staid all winter with us, or the year through, feeding on the 

 " berries of Ivy, smilax, grapes, persimmons, and other berries. 

 " The Ivy (Hedera helex) they were particularly fond of, tho a 

 " native of Europe. We have an ancient plant adhering to the 

 " wall of the house, covering many yards of surface; this vine is 



* Many people arc of opinion that there are two sorts, the large and the small Mocking- 

 bird; but after examining great numbers of these birds in various regions of the United States, 

 I am satisfied that this variation of size is merely accidental, or owing to the circumstance 

 above mentioned. 



