BL UE- GRA V GNA TCA TCHER. 45 



Tliruslies in migration, 1)ut the Wood Thrush may 

 be known from them all by the black spots on the 

 breast extending over tJic sides and up under the zviugs. 

 He is also larger than the other Thrushes and of a 

 brighter color. He may always be heard in May and 

 June in the wilder parts of the Zoological Park. 



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: Polioptila cceriilea. 



Length 4^ inches; long tail. 



Upper parts bluish-gray; forehead and tail black; outer 

 tail-feathers white. 



Under parts grayish-white. 



Female and young without black forehead. 



Resident (not uncommon) from April 5 to September: 

 winters in Central America, Cuba and the Bahamas. 



The tiny Gnatcatcher's conspicuous feature is his 

 long black and white tail, w^hich is usually open and 

 in motion as he flits about in the tree tops. 



This dainty wood-sprite will be found in wet woods 

 where gnats and other small-winged insects are abun- 

 dant. At the Virginia end of Long Bridge there is a 

 point of wooded land, running south, wdiich is the 

 favorite haunt of many birds and particularly of the 

 little Gnatcatcher. He is also found in woods adjoin- 

 ing the Mount Vernon grounds, and Miss Merriam 

 discovered two nests in the Zoo and one on High 

 Island. The High Island nest was only six feet from 

 the ground, but usually these birds build much higher. 

 The nest is an exquisite little structure, stuccoed w-ith 

 lichens like the Hummingbird's. There is a group at 

 the Smithsonian, showing the mother-bird sitting and 

 .being fed by her mate. 



The Gnatcatcher's sons: is a soft sweet warble, and 



'fe 



his call-note has been likened to the " ting " of a 

 banjo string. 



