The Mockingbird

A figure in song, stories, poetry and folklore, Mimus polyglottos (Northern mockingbird) is the official bird in five States (all in the South); with its western counterpart, M. polyglottos leucopterus , the species ranges across most of North America and is still expanding northwards. Doughty tells us about the bird's life historyits mating, nesting and feeding behavior. He describes traffic in caged birds in the 18th and 19th centuries, noting that the mocker sings well in captivity; in the same period there were numerous attempts to establish it beyond its normal range, and it is now a permanent resident of Hawaii. Doughty discusses other species of Mimus , the awesome density of M. Poly glottos in Texas, and the bird's aggressiveness; in conclusion, he examines folklore and literature. Few birdlovers could resist this elegant volume. Photos. (Jan.)