104 Bni:>s of iluxois. 



Harporhynchus rufus (Linn.) 



BROWN THRASHER. 



Popular synonyms.— French MockliiK binl: Sundy Moc-klne-bipl; forrUBlnoDH Mocklni;- 



blrd: Fox-colori>il Mockinc-blrU: Thriishor. 

 Ttiidim ni/iif Linn. S. N. ed. 10. I. 1758. 16?; i-d. 12. 1. ITtiii, i'.O.— Wn-B. Am. Orn. U. ISlO.St. 

 pi. 14.— AUD. Orn. Bioc. li. IStl. IW; v. ISffl. 441. pi. 116. 

 Oi-fuheua rufun Sw. i Hicii. 1". B. .\. 11. 1S!1, IKS.-AUD. Synop. 1839,88: B. Am. lil. ISII, 



9. pi. 141. 

 Barpoihu'ieliHS ru/its Caiian. Miis. lleln. i, 1850, 82.— Baibd, B. N. Am. 1858. 3>1: Cut N. 

 Am. B. 1859, No. 261; Kevlow. 1S6I. 44.— CouES. Kpy. I8T2.7.i: CtiiH'k List, isni. No. 10: 

 2d ed. 1882. No. 17: B. N. W. 1S74. 9: Col. Val. 1K78. 61.-B. B. A: II. Hint. N. Am. B. I. 

 1874. 37, pi. 3. Ilg. 1.— RiDow. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881. No. i;t. 

 Haj>. Eastern North America, west to the Rocky Mounluius and North to the British 

 Proviuco.'i: winters in tho Southern V, S. 



"8p. Char. E.xposed portion of the bill shorter than the head. Outline of lower man- 

 dible straiKht. Above light cinnamon-redu beneath pule rufous-whIte with loncitudinal 

 streaks ot dark brown, e.xceplini: on tho chin, throat, middle of tho belly, and under tall- 

 coverts. These spots untoriorly are reddish brown in their terminal portion. Tho inner 

 surface of tho wInK and the inner edces of the primaries are finnamon: the concealed 

 portion of the iiuills othi-rwise Is dark brown. The median and creator winc-coverts 

 become blaokish brown towards the end. followed by white, produoine two conspicuous 

 bands. The tail feathers are all rufous, the e.\ternal ones obscurely tipped with whitish, 

 the shafts of the same color with tho vanes. Length, 11.15; wIbk, 4.15; tall, 5.2«: tarsus, 

 1.30."' (lli.il.X.Am.n.) 



Though not a very familiar bird— preferring rather hedges and 

 thickets by the wayside — the ]5ro\vn Thrasher is nevertheless well 

 known from his eminent abilities as a songster, in which respect 

 he has no superior and few rivals in those portions of the country 

 which he inhiibits. Besides thickets and hedge-rows, he frequents 

 also open places where there are isolated thorny trees, in which to 

 hide his nest, and where, while his mate is sitting, he mounts to 

 the summit of a tree and, remaining in a fixed position, sometimes 

 for hours together, cheers her, and indeed all listeners, with his 

 sweet and powerful song. The song of this species is conspicuous 

 for its vigor, while it is rendered more attractive by reason of its 

 continuity and ])k'asing expression. It is said to strongly resemble, 

 particularly in modulation, the melody of the Song Thrush [Tunlas 

 mmicus), perhaps the finest of European songsters. In power it at 

 least equals, and in sweetness excels, the much praised porforiuance 

 of the Mocking-bird, but it lacks the inimitable variety of the latter. 

 Perched aloft on a bare twig, his head thrown proudly up, and tail 

 pendent, he pours forth an untiring succession of pleasant notes, 



* Six adult males from the region east of the Mississippi measure as follows: WinR, 

 4.10-4.25 (averiiee, 4.21): tall. 6.05-5.45 (average, 5.20); culmen, .95-1.00 (aver.ige. .99); tarsus, 

 1.28-1.40 (uveraKO, 1.36). Females averoee somewhat smaller. 



