THRASHERS, WRENS, ETC. 



379 



Jt Dr. R. W. 

 s, puts it very 

 itroduced into 

 princely per- 

 3n to his own 

 purity by this 



^kingbird is a 

 s. Mr. L. W. 

 :ing in South 

 two different 

 ring ten niin- 

 rniance. one I 

 Mockingbirds 

 sceptional. 



ui>. (See Fig. 

 lut, sometimes 

 *ge slaty gray. 



tatos from the 

 iatclicwan and 



winters. Sing 

 t S. K., May 6 



n thiekets or 

 M X -(37. 



rth America, 

 well treated 

 lowing him- 

 , answering 

 ertaininent. 

 ting, for he 

 serving our 

 full share of 

 hen he pro- 



ning singer, 

 preferably 

 One more 

 iring nnless 

 "d notes, 

 evoted. 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 toothei-sof 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 de- 

 fense 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 pulling his leathers out till he looks like a 

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

 playftd, full of droll pranks and quaint i)erfornuinces. I know of 

 no bird better worth cherishing and cultivating than the Catbird. 



Olive Thokxe Miller. 



705« Hajrporhjnichus ruftis (Z /»».). Bhown Thkashkk; Bhown 

 Timrs". (See Fig. ,")."), (/.) .!(/.— Upper parts, wings, ami tail rufous; wing 

 coverts tipi>ed witli wliitish ; under parts white, heavily streaked with l)laei'., 

 except on the throat and middle of the belly. L., ll-4"2; W., 4'0(] ; T., a-Oj; 



B., -m. 



Kaiige. — flastern North Ameriea; breeds from the (iulf States to Mani- 

 toba, Maine, and Montreal : winters from Virginia southward. 



VVashingtoii, very common S. K., Apl. ;"> to *)et. lo; oeeasiotudly winters. 

 Sing Sing, eonunon S. R., Apl. 22 to Oct. 28. Cambridge, very common S. R., 

 Apl. 25 o Oct. 15. 



At'A'^, of twigs, coarse rootlets, and leaves, lined with tiner rootlets, in 

 bushes, thickets, or on the ground. AV/j/*', three to six, bluish wliite or grayish 

 white, tliiekly, evenly, and minutely speckled with cinnamon- or rufou.s- 

 brown, 1-08 x -SO. 



Hedgerows, shrubbery about the borders of woods, scrubby growth, 

 or thickets in dry fields, are alike frequented by the Thrasher. Gen- 

 erally speaking he is an inhabitant of the undergrowth, where he passes 

 much tin>e on the ground foraging among the fallen leaves. He is an 

 active, suspicious bird, who does not like to be watched, and expresses 

 his annoyance with an unpleasant kissing note or sharply whistled 

 whehi. 



Like many thicket-haunting birds, who ordinarily shun observa- 

 tion, he seeks an exposed position when singing. Morning and even- 

 ing he numiits to a favorite perch — generally in the upper branches of 

 a tree — and delil)erately gives his entire attention to his song. This 

 is repeated many times, the bird singing almost continuously for an 

 extended interval. He is a finished musician, and. although his reper- 

 toire is limited to one air, he rivals the Mockingbird in the richness 

 of his tones and execution. I never listen to the Thrasher's song with- 



