474 THRASHERS, MOCKINGBIRDS, ETC. 



densely foliaged trees. Eggs, 3-5, rich greenish blue, "94 x '67. Date, D, C., 

 May 17; Cambridge, May 22; Utica, N. Y., May 21; se. Minn., May 18. 



The Catbird is one of the most intelligent birds in North America. 

 He is inclined to be very friendly to man, and where he is well treated 

 and his confidence won he likes to nest near our homes, showing him- 

 self delightfully familiar, coming around the doorsteps, answering 

 one's calls and talk, and singing by the hour for our entertainment. 

 In the garden and orchard he is as useful as he is enchanting, for he 

 is an untiring devourer of insects, and his value in preserving our 

 fruits can hardly be overrated. In this way he earns his full share of 

 the fruit protected, and it should not be grudged to him when he pro- 

 ceeds to take it, as he surely will. 



It is not generally known that the Catbird is a charming singer, 

 for the reason, probably, that his song is rarely loud, and is preferably 

 given from the depths of the thickest shrub he can find. One more 

 often hears than sees him sing, and will miss even the hearing unless 

 quite near, and gifted with a listening ear, ever open to bird notes. 



The Catbird mother is one of the most anxious and devoted. If 

 her nest is discovered, she exhibits so much distress that one sympa- 

 thetic to bird griefs has no heart to pursue investigations. 



The Catbird is generous and helpful to others of his kind in trouble 

 of any sort, feeding and caring for deserted or orphaned young ones 

 of any species, and always ready to aid distracted parents in the defense 

 of their home and little ones. 



He is of a lively and restless temperament, entirely lacking the 

 serene repose of his near relatives, the Thrushes. He is always toss- 

 ing upward or spreading his tail, jerking his lithe body about, now 

 crouching like a cat ready to spring, then straightening himself up 

 very tall; one moment puffing his feathers out till he looks like a ball, 

 and the next holding them closely against his body. He is very playful, 

 full of droll pranks and quaint performances. I know of no bird better 

 worth cherishing and cultivating than the Catbird. 



OLIVE THORNE MILLER. 



1905. HEREICK, F. H., Home-Life of Wild Birds, 122-128. 



705. Toxostoma rufum (Linn.}. BROWN THRASHER. (Fig. 72a.) 

 Ads. Upperparts, wings, and tail rufous ; wing-coverts tipped with whitish; 

 underparts white (buffy in fall), heavily streaked with black or cinnamon, 

 except on throat and middle of belly. L., 1T42; W., 4'06; T., 5'03; B., '96. 



Range. E. U. S. Breeds mainly in Transition and Austral zones from 

 s. Alberta, s. Man., n. Mich., s. Ont., s. Que., and n. Maine, s. to e. La., 

 Miss., Ala., and n. Fla., and from base of the Rocky Mts. in Mont., Wyo., 

 and Colo, eastward; winters from se. Mo. and N. C. to s. cen. Tex., s. Fla., 

 a>nd casually further n. 



Washington, very common S. R., Apl. 8-Oct.; occasionally winters. 

 Ossining, common S. R., Apl. 22-Oct. 28. Cambridge, common S. R., Apl. 

 26-Oct. 20. N. Ohio, common S. R., Apl. 6-Oct. 15. Glen Ellyn, common 

 S. R., Apl. 9-Oct. 11. SE. Minn., common S. R., Apl. 15-Oct. 7. 



Nest, of twigs, coarse rootlets, and leaves, lined with finer rootlets, in 

 bushes, thickets, or on the ground. Eggs, 3-6, bluish white or grayish white, 

 thickly, evenly, and minutely speckled with cinnamon- or rufous-brown, 



