042 BROWN TIIRASIIEK. 



out the day, pourinu; foitli their most delightful strains. The song eoii.sists of iuiitations 

 of the notes of other species, which, although given with deliberation, are energetic, and 

 generalh' quite accurately rendered. He contents himself with practising but a few hiy-i, 

 among which those of the Robin and the Bol)olink are th-e best. These melodies are so 

 ingeniously arranged with some fine ones of his own, and given with such spirit, that the 

 whole forms a harmony which can scarcely be surpassed Ijy any oH our native species. 

 Tlie performer is very calm when he sings, only ruffling his feathers slightly, a,nd occasion- 

 ally fluttering his wings, forming a strilving contrast in this respect with tlie nervous and 

 restless manner of the Cat Bird. 



There seems to be a preference existing among tlieni for certain perches. 1 have seen 

 quite a combat ensue before one whicli occupied a particular tree would yield his place to 

 an opposer, who finally won, and, hopping about the disputed bough, sang triumphantly, 

 while the disposed bird, without being in the lenst disconcerted by the affair, answered 

 from a neighboring tree. 



They continue to sing from their arrival imtil the conclusion of the season of incuba- 

 tion. These birds build among the low bushes, i)lacing their nests upon the ground or 

 near it, witliout the slightest attempt at concealment. They are very assiduous in de- 

 fending their eggs and young, and are not at all shy at this time, especially the female, 

 which will permit one to approach within a few feet of her, when she is setting. They 

 have a loud alarm note, and if disturljed, when breeding, will sound it with such energy 

 as to call many feathered friends to their assistance. The young are fully fledged by the 

 first of July, and moult, with the adults, during the first of August. At this time the 

 young follow their 2)arents, and tlie party will return every night to roost near tlie spot 

 where the nest was placed. Al)out the middle of September they collect into larger flocks, 

 and by the first of October nearly all have passed into the south; I have, however, met 

 with stragglers in Massachusetts as late as the first of December. 



The Brown Thrashers are in no way injurious to the husbandman, but on the con- 

 trary, do much good by devouring many noxious insects ; tlierefore if we do not extend 

 our protection to them on account of their fine songs, we must certainly acknowledge 

 their general usefulness, and not allow them to be wantonly destroyed. 



GENUS. TROGLODYTES. THE WRENS PROPER. 



Gen. Ch. Both mandibles of bill, more or less arched. Sternum, wide, but with the keel low, not being 

 higher than one-half the width of the sternum. Coracoid bones, fully as long as the top of the keel. Wings, 

 short. Tail moderate and considerably rounded. Feet, of moderate size. Tarsus, abjut equal in length 

 to the middle toe and claw. Hind toe and claw, considerably shorter than the middle toe ami claw. No 

 white spots or streaks on the back. 



The characters used by authors in separating the genera Thriothorus and Troglodytes are so sliglit, that 

 it ajtpears to me scarcely consistent to raise the species, usually placed in the former named to a generic 

 rank. Therefore, I have included them in Troglodytes, for after carefully examinhig a large series of speci- 

 mens, I find that there is no more difference between members of the two genera, than often exists among 

 species in the same genus. 



