CAT BIRD. 
19 
the right place and with charming exactness. He not only mimicked other birds but excelled 
them, and after we had heard him their individual efforts seemed quite tame and spiritless. The 
bird seemed unconscious of his merits, for he sat carelessly on a tree top, occasionally pausing in 
the midst of it all to arrange his feathers, or he would fly from place to place without interrupting 
his musical carol. There were several in the vicinity, and they were all in full song, so there 
was scarcely any time during the day, though the heat was excessive, that we did not hear at 
least one of them. After these repeated cantatas we could no longer doubt the vocal superiority 
of the Florida Mocking Birds, for we had never before listened to such melody from feathered 
throats, and it became plainly evident that all other species must yield the palm to this, the 
King of Song. 
MIMUS CAROLINENSIS. 
Cat Bird. 
Mimns carolinensis Gray, Genera, 1844-49. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, rather slender. Bill, slender, gently curved. Scutella on anterior tarsi in adult specimens 
fused into a continuous plate. Sternum, rather weaker than that of the preceding species, in comparison to its size, 
but of the same relative proportions. 
Color. Adult. Prevailing color, dark plumbeous, lighter beneath. Crown, nape, and upper part of tail, sooty- 
black, the outer, edges of the latter are edged with plumbeous. Quills and secondaries, very dark brown, also edged 
with plumbeous. Under tail coverts, chestnut. Bill, black. Iris and feet, brown. 
Young , similar to the adult, with the crown lighter, especially at the base of bill. The under tail coverts 
are streaked with ashy. Sexes, similar in,all stages. 
Young in the nesting plumage , every way paler, especially the chestnut of the under tail coverts. There is also 
a tinge of reddish on the upper wing coverts. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This well known species may he readily distinguished from all others by the above descriptions. Specimens 
from Key West are not only smaller in size, but much darker in color, the top of the head being entirely black. 
Found during the breeding season throughout the United States; winters in great numbers in Florida, the West 
Indies and Central America. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of twenty-five specimens from Florida.—Length, 8T4; stretch, 11-32; wing, 3-59; tail, 
3-71; bill, -74; tarsus, 1-11. Longest specimen, 9-00; greatest stretch of wings, 11-57; greatest length of wing, 
3-84; of tail, 4-00; of bill, -85; of tarsus, 1-23. Shortest.specimen, 8-25; smallest stretch of wings, 10T0; shortest 
wing, 3-30; tail, 3 30; bill, -50; tarsus, 1-01. 
Average measurements of nine specimens from New England.—Length, 8-91; stretch, 11-73; wing, 3-49; tail, 
3-82; Kill, -63; tarsus, 1-07. Longest specimen, 9-35; greatest stretch of wings, 12-00; greatest length of wing, 
3-82; of tail, 4-00; of bill, -65; of tarsus, 1-10. Shortest specimen, 8-45; smallest stretch of wings, 11-26; shortest 
wing, 3-50; tail, 3-60; bill,-60; tarsus, 1-05. 
It will be observed by the measurements given, that, although Florida specimens are smaller in size, the wings, 
bills, and feet are somewhat larger. In this they agree with all other species which occur as residents both north 
and south. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nest, composed of leaves, grape-vine bark, and weeds, lined with fine roots. Dimensions.— External diameter, 
6 inches; internal, 3-50 inches. External depth, 3-50 inches; internal, 2 inches. 
Eggs, four or five in number, rather pointed, and deep green in color. Dimensions, from -90x-60 to -95x-75. 
HABITS. 
Nearly every one in the eastern section of the United States is familiar with this species; 
and it is one, among a few, that is known by the same name throughout that portion of the country 
in which it occurs. This is owing solely to a peculiar alarm note, whieh bears a strong 
resemblance to the mewing of a cat. This sound is only emitted when the bird perceives an 
enemy; then, if it does not apprehend much danger, the mew is given quite plaintively ; while 
it hops quietly from bough to bough, and peers through the bushes in an inquisitive manner. 
