BIRDS— LIOTRICHIDAE—MIMUS POLYGLOTTUS. 
345 
the breast, somewhat as in Lanius. The purity of white in the outer tail feather, too, is often 
impaired by blotchings of brown. 
In a considerable series of specimens before me, I find two from California (8159, 8165) which 
differ from the rest in having a considerably longer tail, measuring 5f inches. The graduation 
is much greater, the lateral feathers being 1.20 inches shorter than the middle, instead of about 
.75 ; the ends of all the feathers distinctly visible from below. The coloration of the tail 
differs a little in having the third black, with a dull white tip, and not the elongated spot in 
the end, running up sometimes as far as the middle of the feather. There is less white in the 
two bands on the wdng coverts ; the bill and feet are larger. I cannot satisfy myself, however, 
that they are distinct, in the absence of a sufficient series of good specimens from the east, and 
therefore merely call attention to the facts as stated. It may be that they are only a more 
northern and larger race than the rest before me. It is probably this variety that Vigors had 
in view when describing Orpheus leucopterus from the west coast of America, (Zool. Beechey, 
1839, 18,) although this has the wing 5.75 inches long, instead of 4.50. Should further 
researches substantiate a specific distinction from both the polyglottus and Vigors’ bird, the 
name of Mimus canadatus would be very appropriate, in view of the lengthened tail. 
Young birds from California, of the long-tailed variety, have the feathers of the breast and 
the sides of body conspicuously marked terminally with a round dusky spot. There are also 
faint dusky markings on the sides of the throat. 
List\ of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex & 
age. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig. 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
8167 
Washington, D. C 
Mar. 25 1842 
S. F. Baird. 
6516 
s 
Indian Key, Fla._,. 
Mar. 17, 1857 
G. Wurdemann . 
3867 
Prairie Mer Rouge, La 
Sept. — 1853 
J. Fairie_ 
6515 
Q 
Indian Key, Fla_ 
Mar. 20 1857 
G. Wurdemann _ 
. 
8161 
Western Texas_, _ 
Capt. Pope ..... 
5064 
Texas__ 
5063 
Pecos river... 
May 22, 1855 
_do.._ 
4961 
Ft. Chadbourne, Tex. 
Dr. Swift_ 
5062 
Indianola .... . 
Feb. 21, 1855 
Capt. Pope _ __ 
25 
4017 
Brownsville, Texas __ 
Lt. Couch .. 
2 
9. 00 
13. 00 
4. 00 
8163 
Eagle pass, Texas.... 
1852 .. 
Major Emory_ 
8166 
8160 
Fort Thorn_ 
Dr. T. C. Henry.. 
8164 
Bill Williams’ fork.. 
Feb. 9, 1854 
Lt. Whipple_ 
83 
Kennerly & Moll- 
9.60 
13. 50 
4561 
Ft. Yuma, Cal__ 
26 
A. Schott _ 
8165? 
Gila river... 
...... do ... 
_ _do___ 
8158 
s 
Posa creek_ 
Dr. Herrmann 
8159? 
Los Angeles valley_ 
o 
Fort Tejon, Cal._ 
44 b 
