326 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



escaped notice during some winters. It has been observed in 

 December, January or February of 1898, 1904, 1906, 1907, 1910, 

 1916 and 1917. 



It appears at its breeding station very irregularly from March 

 1st to April 10th and leaves usually in early August, sometimes 

 later. 



The Mockingbird prefers the neighborhood of man and since 

 the improving of the Rockhill and Country Club regions and 

 Swope Park it has greatly increased within the city. It nests 

 in these districts as well as in the cemeteries, the Marlborough 

 neighborhood, and about Dodson and Independence. Four eggs 

 are laid in early June. More than one brood is raised, young 

 birds having been found as late as September 4th (1913). 



DUMETELLA CAROLiNENsis (Linn.). Catbird. 

 Very common summer resident. 



The first Catbirds are seen between April 25th and May 2nd 

 (April 19, 1903, earliest). Great throngs of migrants are pres- 

 ent between the 5th and 9th of May in the willows of the Mis- 

 souri bottoms. They leave about the middle of September, and 

 from the 17th to 20th of the month the willows again swarm with 

 migrants. Only an occasional straggler is seen after the first 

 day of October. 



This familiar bird is a common breeder within the city wher- 

 ever there is thick shrubbery or bushy cover. Like the Mocker, 

 it takes kindly to the protection of man and, though a somewhat 

 shy bird, it is noticeably on the increase. Four or five eggs are 

 laid during the middle of May and later another nest is built 

 and at least one more brood raised. 



TOXOSTOMA RUPUM (Linn.). Brown Thrasher. 

 Very common summer resident. 



The first of the migrating Brown Thrashers arrive from the 

 1st to the 6th of April, though occasionally single birds are 

 seen much earlier (Feb. 28, 1904; March 26, 1905; March 26, 

 1914). The local birds arrive on their breeding stands and 

 begin singing from the 10th to 15th of April. They leave dur- 

 ing the last half of September and none are seen after the last 

 few days of the month. They breed freely within the city in 

 the same districts and in the same kind of brushy cover as the 

 Catbird. The two species do not nest close together, however, 

 as they are mortal enemies during the breeding season and 



