74 
Synopsis of the Bints 
21 . TURDUS. 
Turdus , L, Briss. Gm. Lath. Cuv. Vieill. Temm. Rang. 
Bill moderate, much compressed except at base, rounded- 
cultrate, furnished with bristles; upper mandible slightly 
curved, generally notched; lower shorter, straight, almost 
rounded: nostrils basal, rounded, half closed by a naked mem- 
brane; tongue depressed, cartilaginous, fimbriated, emarginate 
at tip. Feet rather robust; tarsus longer than the middle 
toe ; inner toe free, hardly longer than the hind one, which 
is as robust as the middle toe : nails moderate, compressed, 
incurved, acute ; the posterior hardly larger than the middle 
one. Wings short or moderate; spurious feather short; first 
and second primaries, second and third, sometimes third, 
fourth, and fifth, longest; secondaries somewhat rounded at 
tip ; scapulars hardly longer than the secondaries. 
Female and young generally differ little from the male. 
Young more spotted. Moult annually. 
Gay. Solitary ; several, however, migrate in flocks. Feed 
on insects and berries. Some eminently distinguished for 
their admirable song and delicious flesh. 
F ound in all countries and climates. Allied to the Family 
Gregarii by Sturnus, and more particularly by Acridotheres. 
but evidently belonging to this family ; closely related to 
Sylvia, Myiothera, Pitta and Saxicola. 
SYLVAN I. 
Live and build in woods, thickets and orchards ; eggs 
4 — 6 . Migrate in flocks. Feed principally on berries, ex- 
cept when bringing up their young. 
95. Turdus polyglottos, L. Cinereous ; beneath and eye- 
brows whitish ; tips of the coverts, primaries at base, and 
lateral tail feathers, white ; tail cuneiform. 
Mocking Bird , Turdus polyglottus , Wits* Am* Orn« il 
V. 13 . pi 10 . jig* ! 
