48 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



homes, and by degrees straggle {if I may use the expression) 

 to their winter-haunts. 7 



(d). The song of the Cat-birds, which is very much like 

 that of the Brown Thrush, is in some respects a striking one, 

 for the tone and accent are very marked ; and, though some of 

 the notes are rather harsh or uncouth, others are very mellow. 

 This song is not a definite or limited one, but is repeated for 

 several minutes together, from the time of their arrival until 

 the summer is nearly over, especially at evening ; but it is not 

 unfrequently marred or interrupted by the mimicry of others' 

 notes, for, though the Cat-birds do not possess the wonderful 

 powers of the Mocking Birds, yet they are clever mimics, imi- 

 tating Quail, Pewees, Least Flycatchers, and even hens, with 

 great exactness. I have been more than once deluded by these 

 musicians into the belief that I distinctly heard birds, whose 

 presence I justly but little expected in the places, where I have 

 thus been momentarily deceived. The Cat-birds have a mellow 

 chuck, a chattered alarm-note, which I am inclined to think that 

 they seldom use, and a familiar harsh ciy, which resembles the 

 "mew" of a cat, whence their common name, and also, prob- 

 ably, that' instinctive but irrational antipathy, which many 

 boys entertain for this bird. 



III. HARPORHYNCHUS 



(A) RUFUS. Brown Thrush. " Song Thrush" "Thrasher" 

 " Mavis." 



(A common summer-resident in southern New England.) 



(a). About eleven inches long. Above, bright reddish- 

 brown ; below, white (or tinged), streaked with dark brown, but 

 throat unmarked. Wings with white bars. Tail very long. 



(6). The nest is placed in a bush (occasionally in a tree, 

 such as the cedar) or on the ground ; never far from it. When 

 placed in a bush, sticks are generally used in its construction ; 

 in all situations the nest being usually composed, wholly or 



7 It is hoped that the author will be excused for these digressive remarks by 

 those persons who are well acquainted with the facts mentioned. 



