38 NOHTII AMKUU'AN HIIiDS. 



As stated in " liirds of North Aiiioricii" soiiie .s])iH'imo,ns (viir. /oni/irniida) 

 from bt'yoiiil the Missouri Kiver are hirger than eastern birds, witli lonjjjer 

 tails, more rut'oiis beneatii ; tlio breast spots darlcer. Unt, in passing I'rom 

 east to west, the change is so insensible tliat it is im^Hjssible to divide the 

 series. 



Habits. This Tiirusli is a common species throughout a widely extended 

 area, from tlu; Kocky Mountains to the Atlantic, and from the ]ied Ifiver 

 country, in JJritish America, to the l;io (Irande. And nearly throughout 

 this entire territory it also resides and breeds, from Texas to the o-lth paral- 

 lel of latitude. 



It reaches New England early in May and leaves it in the latter part of 

 Sejjtcmlier or the tirst week of (October, its stay varying witli the si-ason 

 and the su])ply of its food. Tt is somewhat irregularly distributed, conunon 

 in some ])ortions 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 neighborhood of Savannah as early as the first of March. 



The song of this Thrusli is one of great lieauty, and is much admired by 

 all wild !i]>preciate woodland iuelody of the SHVcte.-si arid liveliest tyiie. It 

 is loud, clear, empiiatic, full of variety and charm. Its notes are never imi- 

 tative and cannot be mistaken by any one who is familiar with them, for 

 tho.se of any other bird, unless it may be .some one of its western congeners. 

 It is a very steady iierformer, singing for hours at a time. Its notes an; 

 given in a loud tone, and its song may often lie heard to ijuite a distance. 



In obtaining its food the Ih'own Thrush is at times almo.st rasorial in its 

 habits. In the early spring it scratches among the leaves of the forest for 

 worms, coleopterous griilis, and other forms of insect food. I>y some it 

 is charged with scrati'iiing up the hills of early corn, lait this is not a well- 

 fownded accusation. Merries of various kinds also form a large jiart of its 

 food, ami among these the small fruit of our gardens must be included. 



This Thrush is a very all'ectionate and devoted bird, especially to its young. 

 It is also proinjit in going to the assistance of others of its species A\hen in 

 trouble. Whenever intrudeis a]ipniach their nests, esjiecially if their young 

 iire far advanced, they manifest the deepest anxiety, sometimes even making 

 a vigorous defence. Tl writer has a very distinct recollection of having 

 encountered, together with a viuniger brother, an ignominious defeat, when 

 making his lirst atteui|it to inspect the nest of one of tiiese liirds. 



'I'he iirown Thrush is jealous nf the intrusion of other birds of its own 

 s])ecies to a too (dose pioximity to it.-i nesting-place, and will assert its 

 love of seclusion by stout liattles. In i.iaiisiana llu; coiislriu'tion of the 

 iie.st is commenced ipiite early in Mareli ; in I'enn.syhnnia, not until May; 

 and in tlu' Ni'W Kngliind States in tia' latter part of that month. The nest 

 is usually not more than two <ir three feet from the ground. It is built in a 

 low bush, on a duster of briers or amony; vines, I have known it to bo 



