LAXTTD.K — THi: SIIKIKKS. 4')'] 



April. At San Diei^o tlu-y lU'sttMl later, alMnit Ajiril 2n. Ho spcnks of their 

 siiiLiinj; {IS an atti'mpt al a suiiLi, ihu notes hein;^ liarsli, like tiiose of a Jay, 

 Itnt not imitative. They eateh birds, but do so very rarely, depending u]ton 

 ;4rassliopj)ers and other in.seets. 



The nests ol" the tjrtihif(froiifrs,sif far as 1 have hail any op|»<»rtunity to ex- 

 amine them, always exhibit a very marked eontrast, in th«^ elaliorateness of 

 their structure, to any of the hnforicitfiwsxhnt have fallen under my n,)tiee. 

 They re.send)le those of tlie bortiilis in tlieir size and tlie telted nature of their 

 walls, but are more coarsely and rudidy ])Ut t()H;ether. They liave an external 

 diameter of about ei^lit inches, and a heij^ht of four. The cavity is also 

 large and deep. These nests are always constructed with much artistic skill 

 and pains. The base is usually a chtsely impacted mass (»f tine gras.ses, lichens, 

 mosses, and leaves, intermingled witli stout dry twigs. Upon this is ^vrought 

 a strong faln'ic of tine wood-mosses, Haxen tibres of i»lants, leaves, grasses, fur 

 of quadrujjeds, and other substances. Intertwined with these are a suttieient 

 number of slender twigs and stems of plants to give ti> the whole a remaik- 

 able strength and firmness. This is otten still further strenutliened by an 

 external protection \voven of stouter twigs and small ends of branches, 

 stems, etc. The whole is then thoroughly and waruily lined with a soft 

 matting of the fur of several kinds of small animals, vegetable down, and a 

 few feathers. 



The eggs, five or six in number, measure l.(M) l)y .7."» of an inch, and strongly 

 resemble those of both the honolis and the /(((foriritntt'.s. Their Liround-color 

 is pale greenislj-white, over which are marks and blotches, more or less ci»n- 

 fluent, of lilac, purplish-brown, and liglit umber. 



Mr. liidgway, who is familiar with tliis bird in Southern Illinois, informs 

 me that in that section it is a resident si)ccies, being abundant during the 

 summer and by no means rare in the winter. It is there, strangely enough, 

 often called the Mocking-IJird, its similar ap})earauce and fondness for the 

 same locality leading some persons to confound these very different birds. 

 In districts where the true Mf'uiu.s is not common, young liirds of this species 

 are freipiently taken from their nests and innocently sold to unsuspecting 

 admirers of that highly apj)reciated songster. 



This bird inhabits, almost exclusively, oi)en situations, being particularly 

 fond of wa.ste fields where young honey-locusts [GU'il itschla tr'ufntnthos) have 

 orown ui). Among their thorny luanciies its nests are almost utterly inac- 

 cessible, if beyond the reach of poles. In sucli localities this bird may often 

 1)6 seen ])erched in an upright i)osition upon some thorn-bush, or a fence- 

 stake, quietly watching for its ju-ey, remaining nearly an hour at a time 

 motionless excei)t for an occasional movement of the head. 



The flight of this bird, Mr. Kidgway adds, is quite peculiar, utterly unlike 

 that of any other bird except the Orco.sroptcs iinnttonn.% which it only slightly 

 resembles. In leaving its |)erch it sinks nearly to the ground, describing a 

 curve as it descends, and, passing but a few feet above the surface, ascends in 



