WESTERN MOCKINGBIRD 
703a. Mimus polyglottos leucopterus. 10 inches. 
Range.—Texas to California and southward, breeding com¬ 
monly from central California southward. These birds not 
only have a song of their own which puts them in the opera 
class, but, as their name implies, they can mimic or mock 
nearly anything in the bird line for song or bird notes. They 
are not satisfied with a few notes early in the morning and 
evening, but will keep their song in full play all day, without 
hardly seeming to take time to hunt up a few worms or 
insects, as if eating was not to be considered when he could 
sing. 
They nest usually low down in bushes and thickets, and 
construct a bulky nest of sticks, roots and grass. Three to 
five eggs are of a greenish color, spotted and blotched all 
over in many patterns with shades of brown (.95x.72). 
CATBIRD. 
704. Dumetella carolinensis. 9 inches. 
Range. —Mostly eastern North America, but extends over 
the Rockies, occasionally to the Pacific coast. It is a fine 
songster and almost as much of a mimic as the Mockingbird. 
Breeding habits are much the same, but eggs are bluish green 
(.95 x .70). 
219 
