496 



A VES— MOCKING-BIRD. 



He also destroys vast quantities of grubs, which he scratches from the ground. 

 He is an active and vigorous bird, flying generally low from one thicket to 

 another, with his long broad tail spread out like a fan ; he has a single note 

 or chuck when you approach his nest. He inhabits North America, from 

 Canada to Florida. They are easily reared, and become very familiar in 

 confinement. 



The thrasher is eleven inches and a half long ; the whole upper parts are 

 of a bright reddish brown ; lower parts yellowish white ; the breast and 

 sides are marked with pointed black spots, running in chains. The wings 

 are crossed with two white bars. 



THE MO CKIN G-BIR D.i 



This extraordinary bird is peculiar to the new world, inhabiting a consi- 

 derable portion of both North and South America. A warm climate and 

 low country seem most congenial to their nature ; they are therefore much 

 more numerous in the southern than the northern states. The berries of 

 the red cedar, myrtle, holly, gum berries, gall berries, and a profusion of others, 

 with which the luxuriant swampy thickets of those regions abound, furnish 



' Turdus pobjglottus, Lin. 



