310 



BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



summer, and occasionally makes itself somewhat of a nuisance in the strawberry 

 patch or the vineyard. The Mockingbird's good habits, nevertheless, far outweigh 

 any evil it may do, and it is well worthy of the protection it receives in the State 

 by law and by the the still stronger safeguard of public opinion. 



FIG. 253. MOCKINGBIRD. 



Genus Dumetella (S. D. W.) 

 316. Dumetella carolinensis (Linn.}. CATBIRD. 



Description. Dark slaty gray; crown and tail black; under tail-coverts chestnut. Extreme 

 measurements of 10 Raleigh specimens: L., 8.35-9.12; W., 3.35-3.75; T., 3.50-4.08. 



Range. Eastern North America, wintering in the southern United States and southward. 

 Range in North Carolina. Whole State in summer, wintering in the eastern section. 



The Catbird arrives in the central and western portions of this State about the 

 close of the third week in April, and leaves us late in October. At Raleigh it has 

 been observed by H. H. and C. S. Brimley four times in winter during twenty-six 

 years of observation. We have no winter records of it farther west. In the east 

 Dr. Smithwick says he has observed it in mild winters in Beaufort and Bertie 

 counties, but does not think it always remains. Sherman saw a number near Lake 



