ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 



837 



"common in spring migrations at Albion, St Joseph and Palmer" (O. B. Warren); 

 " breeds at L'Anse " (Prof. Ludwig Kumlein); " nests semipensile in trees " (Coues' 

 North American Birds); '• eggs five to nine, dull whitish, or pale buff, faintly spot- 

 ted with light brown, chiefly at the larger end" (Davie); "often found in flocks with 

 the preceding species" (Prof. J. W. Simmons); this and the preceding species are 

 two of our most elegant birds. This species is not shy. 



SuBAMiLY POLIOPTILIN^. Gnatcatchebs. 



Genus POLIOPTILA Sclat. 



Blue-gray (ruatcatcher, natural size. 



329-751-(3«). Polioptila caTiilea (Linn.). * Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. 



Very common; throughout Southern Michigan; April to September; " very com- 

 mon at Ann Arbor" (Dr. J. B. Steere); we find it common at this place; S. E. 

 White reports it rare at Mackinac Island and says it is found in the Northej-n 

 Peninsula; " common at Albion, and very common at St. Joseph in 1884 and 1885, but 

 less so since" (O. B. Warren); breeds; nests in trees in May; nest elegant, softly lined 

 and covered outside with lichens; often secures material for nest from nests of 

 other birds; eggs four to seven, white, specked with brown; habits much like 

 those of Creepers and Nuthatches. 



Family TURDID^. Thrushes, Blue Birds, etc. 

 Food principally insects, often fruit; usually sweet singers. 



Subfamily TURDIN^E. Thrushes. 

 Genus TDRDUS Linn. 



*l30-7oo-(6). Turdus musteliniis (Gmel.). *Wood Thrush; Song Thrush. 



Not rare; throughout the state; April and May to October; numbers decreas- 

 ing as the thickets are cleared up; "occurs at Mackinac Island" (S. E. 

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