. " ■ " i' BROWN TIIRASIIEll, q^j 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twelve specimens. Length, 11.24; stretch, lo.2S: \vin<', 4.02; tail, 4.86 

 bill, \.0() : tarsus, l.H!». Longest specimen, 11.72 ; greatest extent uf wings, 14.(10 ; greatest length of win". 

 4.2.J ; of tail, 4.8!» ; of bill, l.O.j ; of tarsus, 1.40. Shortest specimen, 10.30 ; smallest e.xtent of wind's, 1:12.?; 

 smallest length uf wing, 3.1.5 ; of tail, 4.40 ; of bill, .fl.o ; of tarsus, 1.10. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nksts, composed outwardly of dried leaves, weeds and roots, lined with not very fine roots. They are 

 of moderate dejith, and well proportioned to the size of the birds. Dimensions. E,xternal diameter, ,5 

 inches ; internal, 3 inches. E.xtcrnal depth, 3 inches; internal, l..")0 inches. EG(iS, fjur or five in number, 

 pale blue in color, spotted and dotted everywhere with reddish brown. These spots cluster on the larger 

 end, and in some specimens they form rings around it, of varying diameters. Form, generally, rather ellip- 

 tical. Dimensions, from 1.00 by .7.j to l.lO by .80. 



HABITS. 



At the C()iniiiL'iu't.-iiR"iit of my firtit CiUiipaign in Florid;), in Duceinber, 18G8, we liad 

 pitched our tent in the pine h;irren,<, about three miles .south of Jacksonville. It was a 

 very prett\- spot. To the northward was an immense plain, covered with a verdant car- 

 pet, from which rose the huije, brown trunks of innuineral)Ie pine trees, crowned with dark 

 green foliage. An isolated magnolia stood near us, just to the .southward, with its ojossy 

 leaves brought into fine relief by a drapery of Spanish mo.ss. Beyond this rose abruptly a 

 hanunock, composed of live oaks, sweet gum, i)ay, black walnut, and various other trees, 

 beneath, whicli, especially oU the margin, was a luxuriant growth of high saw palmetto.s, 

 mingled witli shrubs. The whole was covered and interwoven with a tangled mass of 

 vines. 



This dense thicket was literally filled witli birds, and we were awakened in the nicrn- 

 ing by the nunierous sounds wliich issued from it. We could distinguish tlie whistle of 

 the Towhee, the chirp of the Cardinal, the faint lisp of the Gnatcat(^her, the enchant- 

 ing soitg of the Great Carolir.a Wren, and the notes of many other species, coming to our 

 ears in tlie wildest confusion, and forming a complete medley. But i^roniinent annmo- 

 them all we could hear the peculiar utterance of the Brown Thrashers. They have a 

 .singular note, apparently half a. hiss and half a whistle, wliich is given at .sunrise and sun- 

 set, throughout the autunui and winter. .Judging by the noise 1 should tiiink there were 

 twenty or more of tlie.se birds in the hammock; but they were shv, and took care not to 

 .show theuis_lves. Indeed, I iiavc always found tliem h.ird to approach .anywhere in 

 Florida, making it difficult to procure speciineiis, although the\ are ipiiti- aliundant 

 throughout the northern portions of the interior. The_\- invariably inhabit the almcjst 

 impenetrable underl)rush while in the State. 



They migrate northward about April Jst, arriving in New Kngland the lirst of Ma\-, 

 where they frequent the edges of woods and cluinj)s of bu-shes which grow along the fence 

 rows and waste places. The males begin to sing as soon as they arrive. They may be 

 seen perclied in elevated situations, every morning and evening, and sometimes through- 



