16 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



LOCATION. Found throughout the United 

 States. In the Southern Resident. 



FERRUGINOUS THRUSH, OR BROWN THRASHER. 



This is a handsome, lively, and active bird, 

 and in length of tail and shape bears a strong 

 resemblance to the Gray Mocking Bird. In the 

 Southern States he is called the French Mocking 

 Bird ; but his notes are not imitative, as this 

 name would seem to imply, but are, I believe, 

 solely his own. They are clear, and in some 

 birds^ loud, and full of variety. They are the 

 largest of our Thrushes, and their notes bear 

 some resemblance to the English Thrush or 

 Mavis. They are, upon the whole, rather dis- 

 tinguished songsters, and I am glad to see that 

 their value is beginning to be appreciated, and 

 there are a good many more of them kept in 

 cages now than were formerly. 



This bird shows a remarkable instance of what 

 would certainly appear to be the possession of 

 reasoning powers, or faculties. It is very fond 



* There is a difference in the singing of birds of the same species ; 

 some are much better singers than others, even in their wild state. 

 This difference may depend upon the age of the bird ; the old birds 

 may be the best singers. 



