, ONTARIO. 



GENUS GALEOSCOPTES CABANIS. 



282. GALEOSCOPTES CAROLINENSIS (LINN.). 704. 



Catbird. 



Wings but little shorter than tail ; dark slate color, somewhat lighter 

 below ; crown of head and tail black ; under tail-coverts dark chestnut 

 Length, 8 to 9; wing, 3! ; tail, 4. 



HAB. Eastern United States and British Provinces, west to and includ 

 ing the Rocky Mountains ; occasional on the Pacific coast. Winters in the 

 Southern States, Cuba and Middle America to Panama. Accidental in 

 Europe. 



Nest, in a shrubbery or thicket, a few feet above the ground ; composed 

 of twigs, leaves, bark, rootlets, bits of twine or rags. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; dark bluish-green. 



' A very common summer resident in Southern Ontario ; and 

 in the Northwest it is said by Prof. Macoun to be common 

 wherever there are bushes. This is a bird well entitled to our 

 protection, but, unfortunately, it is the subject of an ignorant 

 prejudice, which leads to its being persecuted especially by boys, 

 who would throw a stone at a Catbird with much the same feel- 

 ing that they would at a cat. Perhaps one of his most familiar 

 notes may have originated the prejudice, but outside of this, it 

 should be remembered that he ranks high as a songster, coming 

 next in that respect to the Mockingbird and the Thrasher. 

 He is one of the first to begin in the morning, and delivers his 

 message with so much sprightliness and vivacity that we are 

 always pleased to hear him. 



In the garden he is our best friend, destroying an innumerable 

 quantity of injurious insects, but we seldom think when enjoying 

 our luxurious crop of cherries or raspberries that we are largely 

 indebted for such results to the much despised Catbird. 



GENUS HARPORHYNCHUS CABANIS. 



SUBGENUS METHRIOPTERUS REICHENBACH. 



283. HARPORHYNCHUS RUFUS (LINN.). 705. 



Brown Thrasher . 



Above reddish-brown ; below white, with more or less tawny tinge ; breast 

 and sides spotted with dark brown ; throat and belly unspotted ; bill black 

 above, yellow below; feet pale ; iris yellow. Length, n ; wing, 4 ; tail, 5 to 6. 



285 



