682 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. IX. 



Genus DUMETELLA S. D. W. 



340. Dumetella carolinensis (LINN.). 

 CATBIRD. 



Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, p. 292. 



Distr.: Chiefly eastern United States and British Provinces, north 

 to the Saskatchewan, west to the Rocky Mountains, casual on the 

 Pacific coast; breeds from the Gulf states northward throughout 

 its range; winters in the south Atlantic and Gulf states, the West 

 Indies (to Anguilla) and Central America to Panama. 



Catbird. 



Adult: General plumage, plumbeous slate color; crown and tail, 

 black; under tail coverts, dark chestnut; bill and feet, black. Im- 

 mature birds have the under tail coverts dull rufous brown. Sexes 

 similar. 



Length, 8.50; wing, 3.60; tail, 3.65; bill, .54. 



The Catbird is a very common summer resident in Illinois and 

 Wisconsin. The majority arrive early in May and leave for the south 

 late in September. It is a delightful vocalist and a clever mimic, 

 but its most familiar note is a harsh cry somewhat resembling the 

 "mew" of a cat. 



It breeds in May and June. The nest is composed of small twigs, 

 rootlets, and leaves, in a bush, thicket, or low tree. The eggs are 

 4 or 5, deep greenish blue, and measure about .93 x .68 inches. 



The Field Museum collection contains a series of sets of eggs taken 

 in northern Illinois between May 25 and June n. 



