CLASS II. AVES: ORDEIi 2. PASSERES. 133 



it remains in flocks around the woods and dells till November, when it migrates southward, yet 

 moving only so far as inay be necessary for obtaining food. Many of them remain dui'ing mild 

 winters in the forests of New Jersey, though in general the greater part proceed as far as the 

 Southern States. In autumn, throughout New England and the Middle States, being fat and 

 greatly relished, thousands of them are killed for the table. 



The Brown or Ferruginous Thrush, T. rufiis — the Thrasher of New England, and French 

 Mocking-Bird of the Middle and Southern States — is the largest of our thrushes, being eleven 

 and a half inches long. It has a varied and beautiful song, not of imitated but original notes, 

 "sually poured out at evening from the top of some tree near its nest. Its haunts are in low, 

 thick bushes, where it seeks concealment, though often seen glancing from one bush to another. 

 Its food consists of worms, caterpillars, and berries, and it rears two broods in a season. Its colors 

 are bright reddish-brown above ; lower parts yellowish-white, beautifully marked with spots run- 

 ning fn chains. It is easily tamed, and is not only a fine songster, but displays great intelligence. 

 During the warm season it extends from Florida to Canada. 



The Wood-Thrush, T. meloeliiis, inhabits the whole of North America, from Texas to Hud- 

 son's Bay, arriving in the Middle States in May, and retiring in October. It is eight inches long ; 

 above fulvous-brown, below white, tinged with butf. It is shy, living in pairs in low, thick-shaded 

 glens and liollows. Its nest is of withered leaves and stalks of grass, mixed with mud, and nicely 

 plastered, the interior being lined with fine fibrous roots of plants ; the eggs are four to five. 

 This is one of our most pleasing songsters. 



The Golden-crowned Thrush or Oven-Bird, T. aurocapillus, is a summer visitant through- 

 out most of the United States ; it is six inches long, of a yellow-olive above and white beneath. 

 It is shy and retiring, and sits and runs along the ground like a lark. Its nest is sunk in the 

 ground on some dry, bushy bank, being oven-shaped, and made of dry blades of grass ; it is 

 covered exteriorly with leaves and twigs, to match the surface around, for the purpose of conceal- 

 ment. It rears two broods in a season, and not unfrequently becomes the foster-parent of young 

 cow-troopials, whose mothers surreptitiously deposit their eggs in the nest. Its food consists of insects. 



The Aquatic Thrush, or New York AVarbler, T. aquaticus, haunts the borders of streams, 

 and often wades in shallow rivulets in search of aquatic insects, moving its tail as it follows its 

 prey, and chattering as it flies. It is six inches long, dark olive above, and extends its migrations 

 throughout the United States, 



The Cat-Bird, T.felivox or T. lividxnt, is one of our most familiar birds, coining from the south in 

 spring, and breeding in bushes and thickets, from which it frequently utters its cry, resembling the 

 vigorous mewing of a cat, at the same time assuming an appearance of the greatest agitation and 

 anxiety. It is nine inches long, of a dark slate-color, and paler beneath. Its food consists of 

 insects, beetles, and various garden fruits, especially cherries. It is a fine songster, its notes re- 

 sembling those of the ferruginous thrush, though they are often made up in part of blended imi- 

 tations of other birds. This song, often heard late in the evening as well as early in the morning, 

 is very pleasing. Yet the cat-bird is a common object of persecution, especially to boys in the 

 country, who seldom let an opportunity slip to hurl a stone at it. This arises, no doubt, from a sort 

 of impertinent familiarity which this bird assumes, and from its caterwaul, which, as it is uttered 

 from its bushy retreat, often appears like a meditated personal insult to the passer by. The cat- 

 bird is also a notorious cherry thief, and, taking the best, naturally provokes hostility. 



The Curved-billed Thrush — Toxostoma rediviva of Gambel — is eleven and a half inches 

 long, light brown above, breast and sides light brown, tinged with rufous ; an exquisite and pow- 

 erful songster, equal to the brown thrush ; found in California and New Mexico. 



The Ta^vny Thrush, T. Wilsonii, is ten inches long, and of a tawny-brown above and white 

 below ; it comes from the south in May, and has no song but a sharp chuck. 



The Hermit-Thrush, T. solitarius, is seven inches long ; deep olive above, and dull white be- 

 low; is stationary in the Southern States. 



The Varied Thrush, T. ncevius, is ten inches long; above leaden-gray, below reddish-orange; 

 found in California and the fur countries. 



The Dwarf Thrush, T. nanus, is six inches long ; olive-brown above, beneath grayish-white ; 



found on the Columbia River. 



