KEY TO THRASHERS, WRENS, ETC. 205 



voices of the wrenkins form no mean part of 

 the family chorus. They seem to live to sing, 

 and sing to live. To the passer-by it would ap- 

 pear the most important part of their business 

 in life. 



Most of the Wren and Thrasher family wear 

 brown, but some wear gray. They all match well 

 with the earth and bushes they frequent. As 

 they have short, round wings (see Fig. 18, p. 45), 

 they choose to migrate by night, when the two 

 bird-catching Hawks are soundly slumbering. 



Key to Thrashers, Wrens, etc. 



1. Back gray. 



2. Under parts whitish ; crown gray ; outer tail feathers 

 white p. 63. MOCKINGBIRD. 



2'. Under parts slate-gray ; crown and tail black. 



p. 6. CATBIRD. 



1'. Back brown. 



3. Large. Wings and tail not barred ; upper parts reddish 

 brown ; under parts white, streaked with black. Found 

 in thickets p. 177. BROWN THRASHER. 



3'. Small ; wings and tail barred. 

 4. No white line over eye. 



5. Under parts brownish ; tail very short, usually held 

 over back. Nests in northern forests. 



p. 197. WINTER WREN. 



5'. Under parts whitish ; tail of medium length, not 

 held over back. Nests commonly about houses. 



p. 44. HOUSE WREN. 



