THRASHERS, MOCKINGBIRDS 



(704) Dumetella carolinensis 



(Linn.) 



CATBIRD. Plumage as shown; 

 general plumage slaty-gray, lighter 

 below; crown blackish; under tail 

 coverts chestnut. L., 9.00; W., 3.50; 

 T., 3.65; B., .60. Nest — In hedges, 

 briers or thickets, a few feet above 

 ground; composed of twigs, weeds, 

 leaves and rootlets; three to five rich, 

 greenish-blue eggs, .95 x .70. 



Range — Eastern North America. 

 Breeds from N. S., southern Quebec, 

 Ont., Man., Sask. and central B. C, 

 south to the Gulf States, Tex., Utah 

 and northern Oregon. Winters from 

 the Southern States southward to 

 Cuba and through Mexico. A most 

 abundant and friendly species 

 throughout its range. 



the American Bird is l^etter in every respect than that of the 

 famous European songster. The Mocker will perch con- 

 tentedly in the top of a bush and, with feathers ruffed out, 

 tail drooped and eyes half shut, sing for hours at a time, com- 

 posing his music on the spur of the moment and including 

 parts of the songs of many other species. 



Any thickets or bush-covered land is suitable for Mockers. 

 They even take up their abode in trees, shrubs or ^-ines about 

 houses, or in parks even in the hearts of large cities. During 

 the Jamestown Exposition, one came regularly every morn- 

 ing and perched on a shrub before the entrance to one of 

 the large buildings. His songs dehghted thousands of 

 visitors. 



CATBIRDS are also mimics of a very high order. It is no 

 discredit to them to say that their song does not equal that 

 of the Mocker, but it is their misfortune to have such a master 

 singer to compete against. They frequent bush-covered 

 fields or pastures, thickets or gardens and are, with few ex- 



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