BIRDS OF KAInTSAS 



57 



tains; south tlirongli the Gulf States (replaced in western 

 Texas by H. longirostris) . Breeds throughout its range. 

 Winters from the Gulf coast north into the Indian Terri- 

 tory and eastward, to about latitude 37°. 



Iris yellow ; bill black, with under whitish at base ; 

 legs and feet grayish brown ; tarsi in front reddish bro\vn ; 

 claws light brown. 



These large, handsome songsters prefer for their haunts 

 the underbrush bordering the woodlands, tangled thickets 

 of bushes and briers, and the hedges upon the prairies, 

 and, while not shy or timid birds, as a rule select their 

 homes rather remote from our dwellings. The male 

 arrives in advance, and, as soon as he has selected a breed- 

 ing place, mounts the to2:)most branches of the trees and 

 pours forth his loudest song at short intervals, fearing if 

 he remains silent the hen bird may pass him by unnoticed. 

 Upon her arrival, he sings from the lower branches and 

 bushes beneath, and devotes a large share of his time to 

 love making, driving away intruders, and in assisting in 

 nest building. As soon as the nest is completed and his 

 mate begins to lay, he again sings from the treetops to 

 cheer her, taking his turn, however, in. sitting upon the 

 eggs; but as soon as the little ones are hatched his song 

 ceases almost entirely, and he probably devotes his time to 

 watching over and assisting in caring for the wants of the 

 young. 



They feed and rear their young upon earth worms, 

 spiders, grasshoppers, beetles, wasps, etc., and berries in 

 their season. They are quite rasorial in their habits, 

 and in their search for food often hop over the ground 

 and scratch among the leaves. They have a peculiar habit 



