BL UE- GRA Y GNA TCA TCHER. 45 



Thrushes in migration, but the Wood Thrush may 

 be known from them all by the black spots on the 

 breast extending over the sides and up under the wings. 

 He is also larger than the other Thrushes and of a 

 brighter color. He may always be heard in May and 

 June in the wilder parts of the Zoological Park. 



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: Polioptila ccerulea. 



Length 4^ inches; long tail. 



Upper parts bluish-gray; forehead and tail black; outer 

 tail-feathers white. 



Under parts grayish-white. 



Female and young without black forehead. 



Resident (not uncommon) from April 5 to September; 

 winters in Central America, Cuba and the Bahamas. 



The tiny Gnatcatcher's conspicuous feature is his 

 long black and white tail, which is usually open and 

 in motion as he flits about in the tree tops. 



This dainty wood-sprite will be found in wet woods 

 where gnats and other small-winged insects are abun- 

 dant. At the Virginia end of Long Bridge there is a 

 point of wooded land, running south, which is the 

 favorite haunt of many birds and particularly of the 

 little Gnatcatcher. He is also found in woods adjoin- 

 ing the Mount Vernon grounds, and Miss Merriam 

 discovered two nests in the Zoo and one on High 

 Island. The High Island nest was only six feet from 

 the ground, but usually these birds build much higher. 

 The nest is an exquisite little structure, stuccoed with 

 lichens like the Hummingbird's. There is a group at 

 the Smithsonian, showing the mother-bird sitting and 

 being fed by her mate. 



The Gnatcatcher's song is a soft sweet warble, and 

 his call-note has been likened to the " ting " of a 

 banjo string. 



