364 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



attempting to conceal itself, even when closely approached or followed. Indeed 

 at all times it seems to court rather than to shun observation. By reason of 

 these traits, and of its large size, peculiar coloring, animated movements and 

 loud, voluble song, it is one of the most conspicuous of our summer birds despite 

 the character of its haunts. Nor does it take especial pains to hide its neat but 

 bulky nest, which is frequently built in a low bush by the roadside in plain sight 

 of passers-by. The highly polished, dark bluish green eggs are known to every 

 country boy of birds-nesting proclivities, and are often devoured by Blue Jays, 

 milk adders and black snakes. In spite of the depredations of these and other 

 predatory animals the Catbird has not appreciably diminished in numbers within 

 the past thirty or forty years, at least in eastern Massachusetts. 



Most of our Catbirds depart for the south by the end of September, but a 

 few usually linger several days into October. In 1892 Mr. Walter Faxon noted 

 one at Waverley from December 17 to 31, and I have a specimen which was 

 taken at Wellesley on December 30, 1887. 



228. Toxostoma rufum (Linn.). 

 Brown Thrasher. Thrasher. Brown Thrush. Planting Bird. 



Common summer resident. 



seasonal occurrence. 



April 16, 1896, one seen, Belmont, R. Hoffmann. 



April 26 — October 20. (Winter.) 

 November 4, 1869, one seen, Waltham, W. Brewster. 



NESTING DATES. 



May 21 — 30. 



In some respects the haunts and habits of the Brown Thrasher are not dis- 

 similar to those of the Catbird, and nests of the two species may be sometimes 

 found in the same thicket ; as a rule, however, the Thrasher avoids the swampy 

 places which are so congenial to the Catbird, its favorite resorts being dry, sun- 

 scorched hillsides dotted with clusters of barberry bushes or covered with a 

 young sprout growth of oaks, maples and other deciduous trees. It is, moreover, 

 a shyer and more retiring bird than its sombre-hued cousin. Even in my boy- 

 hood days the country immediately about Cambridge, as well as that just to the 



