THE MOCKING-BTEDS. 59 



THE FIFTH SUB-FAMILY OF THE TIMELIIDJE. THE AMERICAN BABBLERS (Minima-)* 



THE THRASHERS. 



These are a group of American Babbling Thrushes, representing the thick-footed Babblers of the 

 Old World (Crateropi), and are not unlike some of the latter in appearance. They have the bill 

 slender, like that of a Thrush, or else long and arched ; the feet are strong, and in most of them 

 rather long ; the tail is rounded and slightly graduated, and is of a moderate length. As an example 

 of this sub-family may be taken the Brown Thrasher of North America, t This Thrush is a common 

 species throughout a widely-extended area, from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic, and from the 

 Red River country in British America to the Rio Grande; and nearly throughout the entire territory 

 it also resides and breeds, from Texas to the fifty-fourth parallel of latitude. It reaches New England 

 early in May, and leaves it in the latter part of September or the first week of October, its stay 

 varying with the season and the supply of its food. It is somewhat irregularly distributed common 

 in some parts of this section, and rare, or even unknown, in others. It is not found near the 

 sea-coast beyond Massachusetts. It passes the winter in the Southern States, even as far to the 

 north as Virginia, and is in full song in the neighbourhood of Savannah as early as the 1st of 

 March. The song of this Thrush is one of great beauty, and is much admired by all who appreciate 

 woodland melody of the sweetest and liveliest type. It is loud, clear, emphatic, full of variety and 

 charm. Its notes are never imitative, and cannot be mistaken, by any one who is familiar with them 

 for those of any other bird, unless it may be some one of its western congeners. It is a very steady 

 performer, singing for hours at a time. Its notes are given in a loud tone, and its song may often 

 be heard to quite a distance. In obtaining its food the Brown Thrash is at times almost rasorial 

 in its habits. In the early spring it scratches among the leaves of the forest for worms, coleopterous 

 grubs, and other forms of insect food. By some it is charged with scratching up the hills of early 

 corn, but this is not a well-founded accusation. Berries of various kinds also form a large part of 

 its food, and among these the small fruit of the gardens must be included. " This Thrush," says 

 Dr. Brewer, " is a very affectionate and devoted bird, especially to its young. It is also prompt in 

 going to the assistance of others of its species when in trouble. Whenever intruders approach their 

 nests, especially if their young are far advanced, they manifest the deepest anxiety, sometimes even 

 making a vigorous defence. The writer has a very distinct recollection of having encountered, 

 together with a younger brother, an. ignominious defeat when making his first attempt to inspect the 

 nest of one of these birds. The Brown Thrush is jealous of the intrusion of other birds of its own 

 species to a too close proximity to its nesting- place, and will assert its love of seclusion by stout 

 battles. In Louisiana the construction of the nest is commenced quite early in March, in Penn- 

 sylvania not until May, and in the New England States in the latter part of that month. The nest 

 is usually not more than two or three feet from the ground. It is built in a low bush, on a cluster 

 of briars, or among vines. I have known it to be placed in the interior of a heap of brushwood 

 loosely thrown together. I have never met with the nest built upon the ground, but in Springfield 

 and in other dry and sandy localities this is by no means an uncommon occurrence. These nests are 

 frequently placed in close proximity to houses, and sometimes in the very midst of villages. The 

 nest of the Thrasher is large, and roughly but strongly built. The base is iisually made of coarse 

 twigs, sticks, and ends of branches, firmly interwoven. Within this is constructed an inner nest, 

 composed of dried leaves, strips of bark, and strong, black fibrous roots. These are lined with finer 

 roots, horsehair, an occasional feather, &c. The eggs are usually four, sometimes five, and rarely 

 six in number. They vary both in the tints of the ground colour and those of their markings, and 

 .slightly in their shape. Their length varies from -99 to 1-12 inch, with a mean of 1'05 ; their 

 breadth ranges from -76 to -87 of an inch, mean breadth -81. The ground colour is sometimes 

 white, marked with fine reddish-brown dots, confluent at the larger end or forming a broad rinor 



. * o O ' O 



around the crown. In others the markings have a yellowish-brown tint. Sometimes the ground 

 colour is a light green." 



THE MOCKING-BIRDS. 



These are also exclusively American, and are distributed over the whole continent, from the far 

 north down to the most southern part of South Amei-ica. They are well known for their admirable 

 mimic. t Brewer, in " The History of North American Birds," Vol. I., p. 38. 



