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THe Mockrne-Brrp at Moores Hutu, Inp. 
3y A. J. BIGNEY. 
The purpose of this brief article is to show how this bird acts on en- 
tering a new community, and to give evidence of its enlarging field of 
activity. 
In Mr. Butler’s catalogue of the Birds of Indiana? in 1897, they were 
reported in twelve counties in small numbers. In recent years they are 
migrating in large numbers into the counties of southern Indiana. In 
1905, about April 1st, the first mocking-bird was seen in the outskirts of 
Moores Hill. It was rather shy, but made its whereabouts known by its 
incessant singing, not only in the daytime, but also during most of the 
night. Such singing had never been heard by our citizens. It continued 
this behavior for about ten days, then left the community. The next sea- 
son a pair returned to the same place and the air was again filled with 
their music. Their usual imitation of the notes of other birds was a 
marked characteristic. This season they nested in the honeysuckle vine 
alongside a neighbor’s house. They remained until late in the fall and 
then migrated southward. During this season one other pair was seen 
about two miles from town. 
The following season several pairs were seen in and about town. The 
last two seasons the numbers have gradually increased, so that now they 
constitute one of our regular bird inhabitants. 
The question naturally comes up, why have they begun their rapid 
advance into the north during the past few years? I can not answer this 
question. I have heard that a kind of ant is troubling them in their nest- 
ing and so they migrate to get rid of them. If any positive information 
‘an be given, I should be glad to know of it. 
Moores Hill College, 
Moores Hill, Ind. 
1Amos W. Butler. The Birds of Indiana. Twenty-second Annual Report of 
the Department of Geology and Natural Resources of Indiana, 1897. 
[23 —23003 ] 
