CAROLINA WREN 53 



Thrasher) and we have many a time chased a strange 

 note to find it coming from this old and supposedly 

 well-known friend. 



The Catbird is shrewd and suspicions, always look- 

 ing out for trespassers on what he considers his 

 tlomain, and is usually successful in driving off an in- 

 truder, whether it be squirrel, cat or innocent l)ird- 

 studcnt; none will stay long to be pelted with his 

 harsh cries. He is truly the policeman of the 

 thickets, and one suspects this to be the rea-on that 

 timid birds, like the Wood Thrush an<l Chcw^ink, so 

 often hvW\ their nests near his. 



Two l)roods arc raised in a season, and the bulky 

 nest, built in a high bush or briary tangle, is of twigs, 

 rootlets and grasses. The eggs, 4, are deep greenish- 

 blue, unmarked. 



The Catbird's love of fruit has given him a bad 

 reputation, but it has been found that he does more 

 good than harm, nearly half his food being injurious 

 insects. He also prefers wild fruit to cultivated, and 

 is said to like the native mulberry best of all, so fruit- 

 growers are urged to plant, a few wild lierries in the 

 garden, and an occasional nuilberry tree in the 

 orchard. 



Carolina Wren; Mocking Wren: TJiryofhonis hido- 

 7'iciaiius. 



Length 5^ inches. 



Upper parts dark reddish-brown; wings and tail barred 

 with black. 



Under parts huffy. A distijict ivliitc line over tlie eye. 

 Resident (common) all the year. 



This Wren has a delightful voice, and we are espe- 

 cially fond of him because he sings when other birils 



