304 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



FAMILY TROGLODYTID^!. WKENS, THKASHERS, ETC. 



SUBFAMILY MIMIN.5J. THRASHERS. 



THE THRASHERS. 



Three species of Thrashers are found in this commonwealth. These birds, as Dr. 

 Coues remarks, "resemble wrens as much as thrushes, habitually residing in shrub- 

 bery near the ground, relying for concealment as much upon the nature of their 

 resorts as upon their own activity and vigilance." The common Brown Thrush or 

 Brown Mockingbird, as it is known to many, and the familiar Catbird are abundant 

 summer residents throughout the state. Individuals of both these species some- 

 times are seen during the early part of winter in our southern counties. The Mock- 

 ingbird, a southern species, is a rare summer resident in a few localities in the 

 southern parts of Pennsylvania, but as this plainly attired, yet exquisite vocalist, is 

 a common cage-bird he is likewise one of our best known birds. These birds are all 

 noted for the melody of their song, and they also, especially the Mockingbird, 

 possess wonderful powers of mimicry. Birds of this group feed largely on various 

 kinds of destructive insects; they also subsist to a considerable extent on various 

 kinds of small fruits ; and the Catbird's taste for grapes, strawberries, etc., is such 

 that he has incurred the enmity of many farmers and fruitgrowers. 



GENUS MIMUS BOIE. 

 Mimus polyglottos (LiNN.). 



Mockingbird . 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 99). 



Bill distinctly notched and slightly curved at tip of maxilla. Tail much longer 

 than wing. Length about 10, extent about 14| ; female smaller ; iris yellowish ; 

 bill and legs (dried skins) brownish-black. Above grayish (some specimens have 

 slight brownish tint on middle of back), below whitish, slightly grayish on breast ; 

 three outer pairs of tail-feathers more or less white ; rest of tail and also wings 

 blackish, but wings have two white bars, and a large patch of same at base of pri- 

 maries. 



Habitat. United States, south into Mexico. Rare from New Jersey, the Valley 

 of the Ohio, Colorado and California northward. 



Irregular and rare summer resident, arrives here about the 1st of May, 

 and departs about the middle of October. A few birds of this species 

 breed regularly in the southeastern parts of Pennsylvania, near the 

 Delaware and Maryland State lines. Some thirty years ago several 

 pairs of Mockingbirds, according to Mr. B. M. Everhart, the well-known 

 botanist and naturalist, annually reared their young near the suburbs of 

 West Chester, Chester county, where, for the past ten or fifteen years, 

 this bird has been observed only as a casual visitant. Solitary Mock- 

 ingbirds have, at irregular intervals, been taken in the late spring, sum- 

 mer, fall and early winter months in different parts of the state, but 

 some of these birds which I have had the privilege of examining were 

 evidently escaped cage-birds. The Mockingbird builds a bulky nest of 

 small sticks, weeds, pieces of string, cotton, etc., in thick bushes, low 



