486 HOCK (¡Hoirs.
blaickj and the tail is black as in winter-, tipped with white-,, and with
the: lateral feathers having part of their outer wob white ; the two middle
feaithers barred like the back. The dimensions 01 an individual arc
us follows :•
Length to end of tail 13£ inches,: to end oî isvisgs 115 ; « ins from
flexure 7M V tail ; bill along the ridge ;tarsus l f t ; middle toe'
its clSiw ft.
Female in Summer. Plate GCCLXVIII. Pig. 3.
The female does not differ materially from the male, the yellow
bands beinii only broader and lighter; .
Very great differences are observed in the length and form of the
claws, they being in some individuals wry long, thin-edged;. arid. taperingy
to a roundel point ; in others very short, being worn dowu to
the .stamp, .• This specicsi considerably smaller than the Ptarmigan
of Scotland, which it precisely resembles in its winter plumage. In its
summer plumage, however, it differs, in haviug the markings, la®g;er ;
and as yet no specimens have boon obtained marked witli undulated
slender,, ash-grey, and dusky-vlufe, in any degree approaching those
characteristic of the British bird in its autumnal plumage. The bill
of the Bock Gr.ms is shorter and thicker than that of the Ptarmigan,
although the reverse has been alleged.
FgS -18? . f
MOUNTAIN MOCKING BIRD.
TtmpUS -MONTANUS.
I'l.ATK eeCLXIX. MAI.K.
THIS intCT.wt.inf? and hitherto unfigured species was procured on
the liocky Mountains by Dr TOWNSENB;, who forwarded a single specimen
to Philadelphia, where I made a drawing of it. The following
notice by Mr 'Nm-rALii shews that' it is nearly allied in its habits to
the Mocking Bird: —
«-Oil the arid plains of the central table-land, betwixt the northern
«¡lire.» of llu.< Piatt..' and the Colorado of the West, in the month of
JuiiCi we ffcipioritly beard the chewing sohg of this delightful species,
whbse -notes considerably resemble those of the Brown Thrush, with
some of the imitative .powers of the Mocking Bird.- For a great part
of the .¡ay, anil, especially early and late; its Bong resounds through the
desert plains, as i t warbles to its mate from some tall weed or bush of
wormwood, and coiiihm.'* wi th little interruption nearly for an hour at
a time; We met with it in the plains exclusively, till our arrival at
Wall ah Waliah, but'wo arc riot. c.-rtiil» of having seen it in any part
Of California, it being apparently entirely confined to the cooler'and
Open regions of the liocky Mountains. Just bftfore arriving at San.li
Crock of the. Colorado, while resting for refreshment at noon, I had
the good fortune to find tlie nest in a wormwood bush, on the margin
. of a ravine, from whence the male was singing- with its usual energy.
It contained four almost, emerald green eggs, spotted with dark olive
ot' two shades, more numerous towards the greater end, the spots large
and roundish. The nest itself was made of small twigs and rough
stalks, lined with stripes of bark and bison wool. The female flew off
to a little distance,, and-looked 011 her unwelcome and unexpected visitor,
without uttering either call Or complaint.™
OKIMIKUS SKWA K I S , MOUNTAIN- MOCKING Biiuj, Tmonsend, Journal of Acad, of
Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 192.
Adult Male. Plates CCCLXIX. Fig. 1.