CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 565 



inches. Tail longer than wing and rounded ; tarsus distinctly 

 soutellate. 



" Formerly was quite a common summer visitor, but of late 

 years is seldom met with. Author has seen but few specimens 

 during the past seven summers, and has found but the one nest, 

 which has been occupied for three successive summers, and prob- 

 ably by the same pair."-^[C. C. A. J 



GALBOSOOPTBS, Cab. 



Or. carolinenBis, L. Catbird. 



Dark slate color; crown and tail black; under tail coverts 

 brownish chestnut. Length, 8f inches ; tail, 4 inches. 



"Arrives in May and remains until October. Abundant 

 everywhere, and at all times. Builds in trees or bushes, and 

 occasionally on the ground, raising two broods. Feeds largely 

 upon insects and wormy fruit. The catbird is considered very 

 generally a great nuisance by fruit growers, and undoubtedly 

 does carry off much good fruit ; but without the shadow of a 

 doubt, it is the wormy fruit that it prefers, and when that is to be 

 had the sov/nd berries or cherries are left v/ndisturbed. If fruit 

 is known to be healthy, it would be better to protect it by flut- 

 tering strips of red flannel, or by little flags, than to destroy the 

 catbirds." 



HA.RPORHYNCHUS, Cab. 



H. rufus, L. Brown Thrasher. Sandy Mocking Bird. Brown Thrush. 



Cinnamon red above ; lower parts thickly spotted ; bill nearly 

 straight, shorter and more curved than in allied species of this 

 genus. Length, 11 inches; tail, 5^ inches. "A brilliant song- 

 ster." — Jordan. 



"Arrives in May and remains in summer. Prefers woody 

 districts, and is as retired as the catbird is sociable. Builds its 

 nest generally on the grovmd. Feeds largely upon insects and 

 worms, and is not offensive to the gardener or fruit grower. 

 They sing but seldom, except early in the morning. Return 

 South in October." 



