306 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



Hab. Eastern United States, west to the Rocky Mountains, north to 

 Southern Maine, Ontario and Manitoba, south to the Gulf States, including 

 ICastern Texas. Accidental in Europe. 



Nest, most frequently placed in the fork of a small tree in a thicket, 3 to 

 6 feet from the ground, sometimes higher, occasionally on the ground; com- 

 posed of twigs, grass, leaves and rootlets, lined with bark fibre and similar 

 substances. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; greenish-white, thickly spotted with light reddish-brown. 



The Brown Thrasher is not so abundant as the Catbird, 

 neither is it so confiding or famihar in its habits, seldom coming 

 near our dwelhngs. It dehghts in the tangled, briary thicket, 

 in the depths of which it disappears as soon as it is aware of 

 being observed. Near Hamilton it is a common summer resident, 

 appearing regularly about the loth of May. At first they are 

 seen stealing quietly through the underbrush, or scratching 

 among the withered leaves like the Towhees, but once arrived at 

 their breeding place, the male is heard from the topmost twig 

 of an isolated tree, pouring forth, morning and evening, his 

 unrivalled strains of music, which are heard long ere the per- 

 former can be seen. 



So far as I have observed, the Thrasher is somewhat local in 

 its distribution, there being certain sections of country of con- 

 siderable extent, where, without apparent cause, it is entirely 

 wanting. About the end of September they all retire to the 

 south. 



Subfamily TROGLODYTIN^. Wrens. 



Genus TROGLODYTES Vieillot. 



Subgenus TROGLODYTES. 



284. TROGLODYTES AEDON (Vieill.). 721. 



House Wren. 



Above brown, brighter behind; below rusty-brown or grayish-brown or 

 even grayish-white , everywhere waved with a darker shade, very plainly on 

 wings, tail, flanks and under tail-coverts; breast apt to be darker than either 

 throat or belly. Length, 4-J ; wings and tail, about 2. 



Hab. Eastern United States and Southern Canada, west to Indiana 

 and Louisiana. 



