Points of wings formed by the four outer primaries, the fifth being abruptly shorter. Hind claw, nearly straight, nearly or quite equal to its digit. Above, dark brown, with a slight olive shade, most of the feathers with dusky centres; eyelids, superciliary line and under parts, pale buffy or ochrey-brown, variable in shade; breast and sides of neck and body, thickly streaked with dusky: wings and tail, blackish; inner secondaries, pale-edged; one or more outer tail feathers, wholly or partly white. Length, about 64; wing, 34; tail, 23-3.

HAB.-North America at large, breeding in the higher parts of the Rocky Mountains and subarctic districts, and wintering in the Gulf States, Mexico and Central America. Accidental in Europe.

Nest, a cavity in the ground, lined thickly with coarse, dry grass.

Eggs, four or five, dark chocolate, with spots and streaks of grayish-brown. In spring and fall, loose straggling flocks of Pipits are seen on the commons, either searching for food on the ground, or in short stages working their way to their breeding grounds in the far north, though how they ever get there is a wonder to any one who notices their weak and vacillating flight.

In the spring they pass along very quickly, but in the fall they are seen in flocks by the shores of muddy ponds or creeks, or in moist meadows in the open country, nervously jerking their tails after the manner of the Water-thrushes. Their only note while here is a weak, timid cheep, uttered while on the wing.

On the 20th of July, 1871, Mr. Allen found young birds of this species, scarcely able to fly, on Mount Lincoln, Park County, Colorado, among the snow fields above timber line.

Dr. Coues found them breeding abundantly on the coast of Labrador, and noticed their habit of resorting to the sea shore at low tide, there to ramble about in company with the Sandpipers in search of food.

Mr. Nelson says that they arrive at Fort Reliance. on the upper Yukon about the 1st of May, and leave about the 5th of October. Kumlien reports that near his quarters, at the Cumberland Gulf, they nested in crevices among the rocks, but in Greenland he found them nesting in tussocks of grass like Sparrows. He tells us that

the Eskimo regard this bird as an enemy, and accuse it of telling the reindeer when a man is in pursuit. It is also said to tell the deer whether or not the man is a good shot. Kumlien adds that he has seen an Eskimo waste his last charge in trying to kill one of these birds, when a herd of deer was close by.

FAMILY TROGLODYTIDE. WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC.

SUBFAMILY MIMINE. THRASHERS.

GENUS MIMUS BOIE.

MIMUS POLYGLOTTOS (LINN.).

294. Mockingbird. (703)

Wings considerably shorter than tail; above, ashy-gray; below, whitish; wings and tail, blackish, the former with two white wing-bars and large white spot at base of primaries, latter with one to three outer feathers more or less white. Length, 9-10; wing, about 4; tail, about 5.

HAB.-United States, south into Mexico. Rare from New Jersey, the valley of the Ohio, Colorado and California northward.

Nest, in bushes and low trees, composed of twigs, leaves, grass, etc., put together in a slovenly manner.

Eggs, four to six, bluish-green, heavily marked with several shades of brown.

Among birds, as among men, individuals differ greatly in natural ability, some being much more highly endowed than others, and their gifts are also varied. Some, representing the architects of the community, excel in building their homes, which have not only all the necessary requirements for the comfort and safety of the inmates, but exhibit a skill and taste in their construction, and in the selection and arrangement of the materials, which never fail to excite our admiration. One of the most complete nests which has come under my observation is that built by the Summer Yellow-bird. It is often placed in the fork of a lilac bush near a house, and is not only luxuriously comfortable, but so well put together that it stands the blasts of winter. It is in good shape in the following spring, but the birds do not use it a second season, and are seen tugging pieces out of the old to help to build the new. Another interesting specimen of bird architecture is the curious, pensile, purse-like nest of the Baltimore Oriole, which is quite a familiar object, swaying at the end of a slender twig of a drooping elm, while in the solitudes of a

cedar swamp the Winter Wren provides a wonderfully cosy home for her numerous family in the centre of a ball of green moss.

Others may be regarded as the poets, the musicians of the feathered tribe, and it would be a curious study for us to try to find out whether those who cannot sing enjoy the singing of those who can. In human ears the melody of many of the birds is as pleasing perhaps as it is to their own species, and in this respect there is none more fascinating than the Mockingbird, whose rapturous music excites admiration wherever it is heard.

One of America's most gifted poets, who evidently knew and appreciated the musical powers of the bird, thus describes it in words. well worthy of the subject. The scene is on the lower Mississippi, a band of exiles is descending the river on a still evening in the early summer.

"Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon

Like a magician extended his golden wand o'er the landscape;

Then from a neighboring thicket, the Mockingbird, wildest of singers,
Swinging aloft on a willow spray that hung o'er the water,

Shook from his little throat such floods of delirious music,

That the whole air and the woods and the waves seemed silent to listen.
Plaintive at first were the tones and sad; then soaring to madness
Seemed they to follow or guide the revel of frenzied Bacchantes.
Single notes were then heard, in sorrowful, low lamentation;
Till, having gathered them all, he flung them abroad in derision,
As when, after a storm, a gust of wind through the tree tops
Shakes down the rattling rain in a crystal shower on the branches."

In the Southern States the Mockingbird is a constant resident. Occasionally a pair come farther north to spend the summer, but as soon as the young are able for the journey, they again retire to the south. In the "Birds of Long Island," Mr. Giraud mentions it as an occasional summer resident there, and speaks of a pair having spent a summer near the beach at Egg Harbor. "The male," he says, "became the pet of the residents, to whom it also seemed much attached, and, as if in return for the attention they paid to his wants, he poured forth his charming melody, which on calm, bright nights, blending with the subdued voice of the ocean, rendered the time enchanting beyond the powers of description."

In Ontario, the Mockingbird is best known as a cage bird, numbers being occasionally brought from the south in captivity, and when exposed for sale are readily bought up by those who are fond of feathered pets. Even in confinement it seems to retain all

its natural power and energy as a songster, and being of a sociable, familiar disposition, soon gets attached to those who are in the habit of attending to its wants. Among American birds it has been justly styled the "Prince of Musicians," and indeed, with the exception of the British Sky-lark, whose grand, soaring flight adds greatly to the effect of its music, I know of no bird in any country possessed of such a wonderful compass of voice. Often while exercising its powers of mimicry, it will give so correct an imitation of the notes of other birds, that the most retiring species will come from their haunts, expecting to meet their mates, when suddenly they will be driven in fear to the thicket by as correct an imitation of the harsh scream of the hawk.

The following incident gives me the privilege of claiming the species for Ontario, a pair having spent the summer of 1883 near Hamilton.

Had any one, acquainted with this neighborhood and with the habits of the bird, been asked to suggest where it was most likely to be found, he would certainly have said East Hamilton, and it was there that Mr. Eastwood first observed the male, early in the season, in one of the leafy lanes between his residence and the mountain. Mr. Eastwood was in the habit of taking exercise on horseback in the early morning, and seldom passed the place where the bird was first recognized without again seeing him on the dead branch of a low tree which he had chosen for his perch. As the season advanced these frequent visits grew into something like personal friendship, for the bird evidently recognized his visitor, and, if absent at first, would readily respond to a call, and, mounting his usual perch, would answer in his own eloquent style. He also caught up many of the local sounds of the neighborhood: the crowing of the rooster, the cackling of the fowls, and the notes of other birds were imitated with wonderful correctness, but sweetest of all were his own rich, full tones, which gave a new charm to that favored locality. Only once during the season was a glimpse obtained of the female, who was evidently engaged in domestic duties, though, with the view of making the pair feel as much at home as possible, the nest was not sought for.

It was hoped that this pair or some of their family would return the following season to visit their old friends in Ontario, but, if they did so, they have not been observed.

In the "Birds of Western Ontario," mention is made of one specimen being taken by Mr. Sandys at Chatham in 1860, which is all we know of the Mockingbird in Ontario at present.

CATBIRD.

389

GENUS GALEOSCOPTES CABANIS.

GALEOSCOPTES CAROLINENSIS (LINN.).

295. Catbird. (704)

Wings, but little shorter than tail; dark slate color, somewhat lighter below; crown of head and tail, black; under tail coverts, dark chestnut. Length, 8-9; wing, 3; tail, 4.

HAB.-Eastern United States and British Provinces, west to and including the Rocky Mountains, occasional on the Pacific coast. Winters in the Southern States, Cuba and Middle America to Panama. Accidental in Europe.

Nest, in a shrubbery or thicket, a few feet above the ground, composed of twigs, leaves, bark, rootlets, bits of twine or rags.

Eggs, four or five, dark bluish-green.

A very common summer resident in Southern Ontario is the Catbird; and in the North-West it is said by Prof. Macoun to be common wherever there are bushes. This is a bird well entitled to our protection; but, unfortunately, it is the subject of an ignorant prejudice, which leads to its being persecuted, especially by boys, who would throw a stone at a Catbird with much the same feeling that they would at a cat. Perhaps one of his most familiar notes may have originated the prejudice, but outside of this, it should be remembered that he ranks high as a songster, coming next in that respect to the Mockingbird. He is one of the first to begin in the morning, and delivers his message with so much sprightliness and vivacity that we are always pleased to hear him.

In the garden he is one of our best friends, destroying an innumerable number of injurious insects, but we seldom think, when enjoying our luxuriant crop of cherries or raspberries, that we are largely indebted for such results to the much despised Catbird.

This species is common throughout Manitoba and the North-West, and was noticed by Dr. Coues as a summer resident in the Red River region and west along the boundary to Turtle Mountain.

It is a most unfortunate thing for the Catbird that he ever acquired the habit of imitating the cat-call, for it is that alone which has cast a shade over all his accomplishments, and brought upon him the derision and contempt with which he is so often regarded.

That it is an acquired habit I can well believe, for it is noticed at once to be entirely out of place in his song; but he belongs to the family of Mockers, and more than likely in ages past some mis