BIRDS OF KANSAS, 601 



keen eye the Hawk when but a speck in the sky, the snake that 

 ventures to crawl from its hiding place, or any of its prowling 

 enemies, giving the alarm at their near approach (a warning 

 heeded by the poultry as well as by its mate), and boldly attacks 

 and drives them away. 



The mated pairs are strongly attached to each other, and are 

 unremitting in their attentions and care for their young. They 

 subsist largely upon the various kinds of earth worms and insect 

 life, and berries in their season. They are very fond of the 

 latter (grapes and raspberries the favorites), but the good they 

 do greatly overbalances the harm. Their flight is low, slightly 

 undulating, and not very well sustained. 



Their song, rich in melody and power, has no equal, save in 

 that of the Nightingale; and it is said by good judges, that have 

 heard them both, that its native or natural song is far superior 

 in compass and thrilling bursts of melody, and, were it not for 

 its sudden breaks as an imitator, mimicking in the midst of his 

 song the garrulous notes of the Jay, the quack of a Duck, or the 

 soft notes of our little songsters, regardless of harmony, they 

 would stand unrivaled. Perched upon a tall dead limb, or the 

 housetop, he pours forth his song, not only throughout the day 

 but on bright moonlight nights, and at times is so inflated with 

 love and vigor that he rises as he sings, and drops back to his 

 perch, with tremulous wings and spreading tail, a proud bird! 

 a picture of happiness and content. 



Their nests are placed in small trees, thickets, bushes, hedges, 

 and in various locations, but rarely over ten feet from the 

 ground. The outside is loosely constructed of small twigs, 

 weeds, etc., and lined usually with fine rootlets, sometimes with 

 hairs or other suitable material at hand. Eggs four or five, 

 .98x.74; light greenish blue to a dull buffy color, spotted and 

 blotched with yellowish to very dark reddish brown and purple, 

 thickest about the larger end; in form, oval. 



GENUS GALEOSCOPTES CABANIS. 



"Bill shorter than the head, rather broad at base. Rictal bristles moder- 

 ately developed, reaching to the nostrils. Wiugs a little shorter than the tail, 

 rounded, secondaries well developed; fourth and fifth quills longest; third and 



