Rick and Anita Perry are the proud parents of two children －Griffin，22，and Sydney，19．The Perrys are members of Tarrytown United Methodist（卫理公会教派的）Church．
State Bird州鸟
因为嘲鸟有着优美的叫声，所以在1927年它成为了得克萨斯州的州鸟。嘲鸟能模仿很多鸟的“歌声”。它长约10英寸，包括相当长的尾巴。它有淡灰色的外衣和白色的内腹。它的羽翼和尾巴较灰暗且有白色斑纹。雄雌嘲鸟看起来很像。幼雏胸部有斑点。这种鸟在保护自己窝巢方面很勇敢，有时可以看见它会飞扑向狗和猫以及食肉动物。
The mockingbird is the state bird of Texas，adopted by the Legislature at the request of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs．
Ask any Texan，and you will no doubt learn that the mockingbird has the prettiest song of any bird native to North America．That’s perhaps the chief reason the“mocker”was adopted as the state bird of Texas in 1927．Legend has it when Texas chose the mockingbird as its state bird，the resolution stated that the bird is“a fighter for the protection of his home，falling，if need be，in its defense，like any true Texan．．．”Its species name comes from the Greek mimus to mimic，and ployglottos for“many－tongued．
The Mimus polyglottos，as the mockingbird is known scientifically，is about ten inches in length，including its relatively long tail．It has a light gray coat and a whitish underside．Its wings and tail are darker gray with white patches（斑纹，斑点）．The male and females look alike．Juvenile has spotted breast．
The common mockingbird is a superb songbird and mimic．Its own song has a pleasant lilt（轻快活泼的调子），varied and repetitive．Often it will sing all night long，especially in bright springtime moonlight．Unmated male mockingbirds sing more than mated ones．Both sexes sing in the fall to claim winter feeding territories．These areas are often different than their spring breeding territories．
The song of the mockingbird is，in fact，a medley（［音］集成曲）of the calls of many other birds，each repeated several times．It will imitate other species’songs and calls，squeaky（吱吱响的）gates，pianos，sirens，barking dogs，etc．Each imitation is repeated two or three times，then another song is started，all in rapid succession．In the above sample audio file，the songs of four distinct species were recorded in the span of about seven seconds．It is common for an individual bird to have as many as 25—30songs in its repertory（库存）．
The mockingbird is also known as a fierce protector of its nest and environment．It is sometimes seen swooping down on a dog，cat or predator（掠夺者）that may be venturing too close to the bird’s protected territory．
Abundance：Common urban bird
Length：10inches
Wing Span：14inches
General description：Diurnal（一日间的，白天的），omnivore（杂食动物），altricial（晚成雏的）
Sexual maturity：1year
Mating season：Spring and early summer．Mockingbirds usually nest twice a year sometimes 3or 4times when conditions are favorable．
Breeding territory：1pair per 20acres
Gestation：Eggs hatch in 12－13days，the young fledge 11－13days after that．
Number of young：Eggs are blue－green with brown markings．The 2－6，usually 3－5，eggs per nest are a pale blue－greenish with brown spots．
Nest Location：Ground－low nesting
Nest Type：Open－cup The nest，a joint male／female project，is a bulky（大的，容量大的，体积大的），open cup of grass，twigs and rootlets（支根）carelessly arranged in a dense．
Migration Status：Permanent resident．This year－round resident is known for its fierce defense of the family nest．
Diet：Mockingbirds require open grassy areas for their feeding，thick，thorny（多刺的）shrubs for hiding the nest and high perches where the male can sing and defend his territory．Gardens are among its favorite dwelling places especially if winter berries are available．The Mockingbird’s primary diet is insects（beetles（甲虫），ants，grasshoppers（蚱蜢，蝗虫）and spiders），berries and seed．
Fact：
Only unmated（未配对的，（鸟等）未交配的）males sing at night．
Mockingbirds often form long－term pair bonds．
Mockingbirds vigorously defend their territory against many other species including dogs，cats and man！
Female mockingbirds often build a new nest while the males finish feeding older fledglings（羽毛初长的雏鸟）and teaching them to fly．
Scientists have found that female mockingbirds are attracted to males that can make the most different sounds．
Mockingbirds are the state bird of Arkansas，Florida，Mississippi，Tennessee，and Texas and one of the few birds found in every kind of habitat，from desert to forest to city．
Mockingbirds are thought to raise and lower their wings in order to scare up（张罗）a meal of insects，frighten snakes and impress their mates．
State Flower州花
矢车菊是得克萨斯人最喜爱的一种花。1901年，本州将矢车菊作为州花。1971年，又将矢车菊和矢车菊其他的品种作为州花。这种花是豆科植物。在得克萨斯州的西部，高大的矢车菊能长到3英尺。从得克萨斯州东北部到西南部，常见的矢车菊长得比较矮小，一般能长到15—24英寸。花期从3月初到5月初。
Scientifically named Lupinus texensis，the bluebonnet is also called buffalo clover（苜蓿），wolf flower，and（by the Mexicans）el conejo．Bluebonnets have long been a favorite of Texans．Historian Jack Maguire refers to Texas’state flower as“an institution，almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat．”On March 7，1901，the Texas House of Representatives adopted the bluebonnet，originally Lupinus subcarnosus，as the official state flower．Imagine if one of the other ideas—the open cotton boll（“the white flower of commerce”）or the flowering prickly pear（仙人掌果），for instance—had won the nomination（任命）．The Society of Colonial Dames of Texas vigorously lobbied for the obvious choice．This only began the long list of official bluebonnet designations．
Since this flower has look－alike“cousins，”the state legislature，in 1971，named all lupine（羽扇豆属植物）species as the official state flower．On March 8，1971，Texas Legislators decided that the official Texas flower should not exclude the showier［（过分）艳丽的］and more prolific（多产的）Lupinus texensis．Just to make sure，the new state flower resolution included“any other variety of bluebonnet not heretofore（迄今）recorded．”This means that the six species of bluebonnets native to Texas are considered the state flower．It seems fitting that Texas also has six flags in its history．
