224 



BIRDS OF AMERICA 



The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is one of the sweet- 

 est singing birds of the soutliland, but owing 

 to the weakness of its voice it can be heard only 

 a short distance. In spring one may pass through 

 a woodland resonant with the songs and cries of 

 mating birds and never suspect that one of the 

 most abundant of all the feathered inhabitants 

 of the region is the little gray Gnatcatcher. In 

 form it strikingly resembles a Mockingbird, but 

 its diminutive size precludes the possibihty of 

 confusion with that bird. 



The lichen-covered nest is usually placed on 

 the horizontal limb of an oak or other deciduous 

 tree. The nest is begun in the early spring and 

 may easily be seen from the ground below. It 

 is usually placed in such a position, however, 

 that when the leaves on the surrounding twigs 

 are fully grown, it is completely hidden from 

 view. Both birds labor at the task of nest 

 buikhng, and also share alike the duties of incu- 

 bation and caring for the young. Many kinds 

 of birds maintain a discreet silence when near 



the nests, but not so with the Blue-gray Gnat- 

 catcher. Sometimes he may be found exercis- 

 ing his vocal power to his little utmost when the 

 female is brooding only a few feet away. On 

 more than one occasion I have watched a male 

 Gnatcatcher singing with might and main as he 

 sat on the eggs taking his turn at housekeeping. 



As the name of this bird implies, it is insectiv- 

 orous in its feeding habits. Hence it is migra- 

 tory. Until of late it has been supposed that 

 none of the species passed the winter north of 

 Florida. Recently, however, Arthur T. Wayne 

 has proved that some of them spend the colder 

 months in swamps as far north as South Caro- 

 lina. 



In the w-estern United States and Mexico is 

 found the Western Gnatcatcher (Polioptila 

 acnilca obsciira). a variant form of the Blue- 

 gray. The gray of its upper parts is slightly 

 duller and the black at the base of inner web of 

 the outer tail-feathers is more extended than in 

 the Blue-gray. T. Gilbert Pearson. 



THRUSHES 



Order Passcrcs; suborder Oscincs; family Tiirdidcr 



HE Thrushes belong to the singing birds. Their bills are slender and small 

 and the upper mandible grows slightly thicker toward the apex. The space 

 in front of the eyes is wide. 



The various members of the Thrushes present wide differences in gen- 

 eral appearance, form, coloration, and habits. Some live among the trees, 

 others on the ground, and others among rocks. Some eat fruits, others in- 

 sects — though many kinds feed upon both fruits and berries and insects. 

 They may be plainly colored or of brilliant hues, though the latter is ex- 

 ceptional, the former being the rule. 



The young of the Thrush family differ from the aditlts in having the 

 upper and under parts spotted, whether that is or is not the case in the adult. 

 This family trait is particularly noticeable in the Robin. The autumn molt is the only com- 

 plete change of feathers during the year. In the spring the points of the feathers are cast 

 off and any extremely worn feathers are replaced by new ones. The young birds have a 

 complete molt before they migrate in their first autumn. 



The family is remarkable for the number of excellent songsters it contains, the Euro- 

 pean Nightingale and the American Hermit Thrush, \'eery, and Wood Thrush being re- 

 nowned in this respect. 



The Thrushes, as a group, are nearly cosmopolitan, only parts of Polynesia having 

 none. They are most numerously represented in Europe and northern and central Asia. The 

 family is well developed in the Americas, especially in the mountainous district extending 

 from Mexico to the central Andes, the total number of species and subspecies now known to 

 occur in the two continents being about one hundred and fifty. 



