150 NATUBAI, HISTORY. 



CHAPTER XV. 



PEECHiKG BIRDS — Continued. 



I NOW go on to consider the remaining families of the 

 Dentirostral group of the Perchers. 



248. The Thrushes form a very numerous and diversir 

 fied family. They are almost universally distributed, ap- 

 pearing in nearly every variety of climate. Besides the 

 insects on which they live in common with the Warblers, 

 they eat, also, snails, earthworms, and various berries. 

 They are generally larger than the "Warblers. Many of 

 them are celebrated songsters. The American Mocking- 

 bird is one of the most prominent. This bird is very 

 abundant in the warmer portions of the United States, 

 and is found also in the northern portions of South 

 America; it is sometimes found as far north as Rhode 

 Island, but not far inland. Like the Nightingale of Eu- 

 rope, it has a dull plumage, but it is graceful in form, 

 and with its animated, active air while singing, has then 

 considerable beauty. Its natural notes are very fine, 

 and it has powers of imitation surpassing in variety every 

 other bird. It seems to take special delight in abrupt 

 transitions among sounds that are totally unlike, passing, 

 for example, from the creaking of a wheelbarrow, or the 

 sound of a saw, to the sweet song of a Canary. 



249. To this family belongs the American Robin. This 

 bird is very widely diffused in this country, being found 

 in Oregon, and even at Nootka Sound. It is a very fa- 

 miliar bird, and a favorite one, partly because it comes 

 BO early in the spring, and is so late in emigrating south, 

 and partly from its having the same name with the Eu- 

 ropean Redbreast, in whose praise there has always so 

 much been said, both in prose and poetry. The two 



