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705. Brown Thrasher. FR.—LA GRIVE ROUSSE. Toxostoma rufum. L, 11-42 
Plate XLV A. 
Distinctions. The Brown Thrasher with its red-brown back and sharply streaked 
breast has the general outward appearance of a thrush, but its large size, ruddiness of the 
brown, and long tail are distinctive. 
Field Marks. The bright red-brown back, sharply striped breast, long tail, and 
general carriage and habits. 
Nesting. In thickets or on ground in nests of twigs, coarse rootlets, and leaves lined 
with finer rootlets. 
Distribution. Eastern United States and southern Canada, except Atlantic coast, 
north including the sections of thickest settlements. 
The Brown Thrasher is probably the best common Canadian songster. 
Its song is very similar to that of the Song Thrush of Europe. Itisa 
succession of phrases like that of the Catbird but without its occasional 
discordance and more liquid and mellow in tone. The notes are uttered 
close together and continue for several minutes, sometimes in great 
variety. Thoreau has translated some of them as ‘“‘ Drop it — drop it — 
cover it up cover it up—pull it up pull it up.” The repetition of each 
variation is one of the peculiarities of the song of the Brown Thrasher, 
by which it can be distinguished from the Catbird. 
This is also a bird of the thickets, inhabitating open tangles, clumps of 
bushes in meadows, and the edges of woods and fence-rows. The Thrasher 
is rather more retiring than the Catbird and is less easily induced to come 
into the home grounds. 
Economic Status. A decidedly useful bird, over one-half of its food 
being injurious insects, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, etc. The 
remainder is largely fruit, a small part of which is probably cultivated and 
is mostly raspberries. On the whole it does little damage and much good. 
FAMILY—-TROGLODYTIDA. WRENS. 
The Wrens are small brown birds living close to the ground. Though 
diminutive in size they are very energetic and except when brooding or 
asleep are rarely still. They can be recognized by their small size, brown 
coloration, small stubby tail often thrown up over the back, and their 
restless habits, winding in and out amongst the densest brush piles more 
like mice than birds. The Wrens are a large family well distributed over 
the world but better represented in species in the New than in the Old World. 
Their habitat varies from watery swamps to dry uplands and from open 
thickets to deep dense woods. The family name Troglodytide, cave- 
dwellers, is derived from their habit of nesting in holes. 
718. Carolina Wren. Thryothorus ludovicianus. L, 5-50. The largest of our 
Wrens and the reddest, the back approximating the red of the Brown Thrasher, ef a 
lighter yet distinctly warm tint below. 
_ Distinctions. Size, comparative redness of back, and the distinct light eyebrow 
line are distinctive of this species. 
Field Marks. The above distinctions make the best field marks. The Long-billed 
Marsh Wren has a similar eyebrow line but size, general colour, and habitat will prevent 
confusion with it. 
Nesting. In holes in trees or stumps or in nooks and crevices about buildings, in 
bulky nest of grasses, feathers, leaves, etc., lined with finer grasses, long hairs, etc. 
Distribution. Eastern United States, north intermittently into Canada in the western 
lake Erie section. For a number of years the species was quite common on Pelee point 
and on Pelee island, but since 1913 it seems to be becoming rarer. 
_ SUBSPECIES. Of the three subspecies of Carolina Wren only one, the Northern 
Carolina Wren, the typical race, is to be expected in Canada. 
