Catalogue of Birds obtained in Navarro County, Texas. 175 



and never for a moment ceasing its song, with which it con- 

 fusedly mingles the notes of any neighbouring warbler, the 

 cackling of poultry, and even the drowsy hum of the grass- 

 hopper, the whole mixed up with its legitimate notes in an 

 indescribable medley; and the fact of its singing equally well in 

 midwinter as in the height of summer proves that its melody is 

 poured forth as much for its own pleasure as for the solace of its 

 mate, nevertheless, at that season, it remains soberly still while 

 sino-ino-, and contents itself with a humbler elevation. The nests, 

 which are carelessly constructed of roots, small pieces of stick, 

 wool, and cotton, lined with finer roots and grass, are placed in 

 the most exposed situations, on low trees and shrubs, among 

 coarse weeds, at the corners or junctions of fences, in holes of the 

 woodwork of outhouses, and indeed on any convenient site, at 

 no great distance from the ground, and being greatly exposed to 

 the attacks of prowling cats, skunks, snakes, and other predatory 

 animals, they suffer more severely in this respect than any other 

 species. Three broods are produced in the season, the young of 

 the first being able to fly by the beginning of May, and the 

 usual complement of eggs is five. Their food varies with the time 

 of year, consisting during the breeding season almost entirely of 

 orthopterous insects, while in the fall and winter berries alone 

 are used, the wild grapes being chosen in preference to all 

 others. 



Harporhynchus rufus (Linn.) Brown Thrasher. — This is a 

 scarce bird in our district, and generally occurs during the cold 

 season, when solitary examples may now and again be seen 

 about the edges of thick underbrush, in which, however, they 

 conceal themselves so quickly and efiectually as to make a 

 capture exceedingly difiicult. Whenever I did have an oppor- 

 tunity of observing their actions, they appeared to resemble 

 those of the last mentioned species in its restless and uneasy 

 manner, and incessant hopping from branch to branch. When 

 undisturbed, it is, however, much more terrestial in its habits, 

 and is most frequently found upon the ground, scraping among 

 dead leaves, which it throws out to some distance behind it 

 something in the manner of domestic poultry, but always in 

 close proximity to thick covert. Their food consists chiefly of 

 small grasshoppers and berries. It is probable that a few pairs 



