The Wood Thrush 71 



to eat those small forms of life found in such situations; and, in fact, careful 

 observation has found such to be true. Practically any insect which it comes 

 upon in its apparently aimless travels about the groves and thickets is doomed 

 to speedy destruction, unless escape is instantly effected. Beetles which in- 

 habit the ground or the bark of trees are eaten, as well as grasshoppers, snails, 

 spiders, and the larvae of many moths and other succulent insects. Now and 

 then the bird steals into the garden to take a gooseberry or blackberry, but, 

 if the earth has been recently spaded, it shows a decided preference for any 

 cutworm, or other undergrowing form of similar character, which may have 

 been exposed to the light of day. Wood Thrushes eat wild fruit and berries to 

 some extent, but their characteristic shyness evidently prevents them from 

 acquiring that intimacy with mankind which would tend to make them feel 

 as much at home in the cherry tree as does our dear, but at times annoying, 

 Robin. 



All wild creatures, of course, have their enemies. Snakes, weasels, hawks, 

 and owls are among what we may call the natural enemies of small birds. 



Against these destroyers our feathered friends have for long 

 Enemies centuries been able to hold their own in numbers. Mankind, 



however, has brought many changes in the wild-life conditions 

 of the country, and, while we have destroyed many of the creatures which 

 formerly thinned the Wood Thrush ranks, we have introduced others whose 

 destructive effects are vastly more potent. Here is the tragic trio which we 

 have let loose upon American wild bird life; the sling-shot boy, the all-eating 

 Italian, and the ravenous house cat. 



Classification and Distribution 



The Wood Thrush belongs to the Order Passeres, Suborder Oscines, Family 

 TurdidcB, Subfamily TurdincE. Its scientific name is Hylocichla mustelina. It breeds 

 from southern South Dakota and southern New Hampshire, south to eastern Texas 

 and northern Florida, and winters from southern Mexico to Nicaragua and Costa 

 Rica, occurring casually in winter as far north as New Jersey. 



