THRASHEKS. 



85 



first migrants of this species anive at Helena about the middle of 

 April, and the hist birds leave about the fii-st week in October. The 

 last one seen at Delight was noted October 10. \ few winter in 

 favorable localities in the State and ^IcAtee noted them as fairly 

 conm.aon in t>ittenden and St. Francis Coimties Xoveuiber 12-lS, 1910. 

 The Biologiciil Siu'vcy's study of the catbird's food habits indicates 

 that it subsists hu-gely on fruit, of which aboiit one-tliird is cultivated, 

 ihe remainder of wild species, such as blackberries, wild cherries, mid- 

 berries, elderberries, and the fi-uit of the dogwood, sour giun, simiac, 

 and poison ivA". Insects constituted about 44 per cent of the total 

 food in the stomachs examined, and included ants, beetles, cater- 



Fio. ••.—Breeding area o( lie brown thrasher i ToiaMama ru/iim) in Arkansas. 



pillars, and grasshoppers. Though sometimes a pest where small 

 fruits are raised, this bird on the whole does more good than harm. 



Bro-wn Thrasher. Toxostoma rufum. 



This bird, frequently called the "browTi tlu"usli,'" is a conmiion mi- 

 grant and a rare simimer resident in tlie northern pai-t of the State. 

 It is reported as nesting at Clinton and Newport, and I foimd it 

 breeding in small numbers at Conway and ^laimnotli Spring. At the 

 latter place a nest with young was foimd Jtme 15. At Helena it 

 does not breed but is reported as a rare migrant, arriving from the 

 south about ^larch 15 (earliest, Marcli 1) and passing south in 

 October and November (last seen. November 13). A few pass the 



