24 
MOCKING-BIRD. 
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 gray ; the wings and tail are nearly 
black, the first and second rows of coverts tipped 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, tipped 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 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 Bartram 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, feeding on the berries of ivy, 
smilax, grapes, persimmons, and other berries. The ivy (Iledera helex) 
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 from his stomach through his mouth the 
hard kernels of berries, such as smilax, grapes, &c, retaining the 
pulpy part."f 
* Many people are 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. 
t Letter from Mr. Bartram to the author. 
