196 BIRDS OF OHIO, 



Morgan, Morris, Arrick, Davie; Oberlin, Jump (specimen) ; 

 Columbus, Wheaton, Davie. The Cleveland records need 

 confirmation. In Morgan county they were present all sum- 

 mer in 1896, and in the autumn of that year twenty birds 

 were to be found. The same colony returned in 1897 but 

 left during the cold Alay and June of that year, and have 

 not been found since. There are a number of unconfirmed 

 records of the Mockingbird from northern Ohio which may 

 prove to be good records. But the likelihood of the presence 

 of escaped cage-birds in the vicinity of cities, from which 

 these reports come, throws some doubt upon the records. 



Since the above was written Mr. C. H. Morris writes me 

 that on January 25, 1903, in company with Mr E. J. Ar- 

 rick, he found and captured a Mockingbird near McCon- 

 nellsville. Let us hope that this is an indication of an inva- 

 sion of this beautiful singer and mimic. 



276. (704.) Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.). 8. 

 Catbird. 



Synonyms: Mimus carolinensis, Turdus felivox, Mimus felivox, 

 Muscicapa carolinensis. 

 Cat Flycatcher, Merle Catbird, Chat. 

 Kirtland, Ohio, Geol. Surv., 1838, 163. 



Catbird is everywhere common during the summer, and 

 abundant in many localities. It is probably too well known 

 to make necessary the mention of_its brush-loving proclivi- 

 ties. It is bold enough to make its summer home in the 

 door-yard if a suitable nesting-place be furnished. 



Forty-four per cent, of the Catbird's food consists of in- 

 sects, and 56 per cent, vegetable matter. Of this 56 per 

 cent, only one-third consists of fruit which might be culti- 

 vated. In most parts of Ohio it is certain that a large part 

 of the fruit eaten is wild fruit. Hence the Catbird is really 

 a decidedly beneficial bird. It cannot be denied that he 

 eats some fruit on occasion, and may be punished for it. 

 He is neither a witch nor a wizard, as many persons seem 

 to think, but a plain everyday sort of bird, mostly concerned 

 with his own business, wanting nothing only to be let alone. 



