The Hawkey e O. and 0. 16 



and then you see one thrust his head out of a thick clump and 

 peer anxiously at you. But if you think you have found a nest 

 you are mistaken. The nest is not so easily found. It is most 

 carefully hidden, and he who finds it must be possessed of a good 

 stock of patience, which, unfortunately perhaps, I haven't. The 

 oologist will have many a long search, must likely, before he at 

 last finds the nest, built of grasses and placed at the foot of a 

 bush or tuft of grass, although Mr. W. Brewster found one nest 

 two feet high in a juniper bush June 3d, 1875. 



The eggs are white with spots of lilac, purple and light brown-' 

 ish shades, generally four in number and measure .70x.55. Pure 

 white eggs are sometimes though rarely found. 



The family Troglodytictee includes the various Thrashers, 

 Wrens, etc. First on the list is the far famed Mockingbird, 

 "Prince of Song;" the rival, probably the superior from some ac- 

 counts, of the wondrous musician, the Nightingale. 



THE MOCKINGBIRD 



is a resident, although much more common in summer than win- 

 ter. He is very quiet in the winter months, but the warmth of 

 spring soon thaws out the channels of song hidden in the plain 

 drab throat. 



I advise all admirers of the Mockingbird to read Maurice 

 Thompson's charming little book "By Ways and Bird Notes." 

 It contains a long chapter on the habits of this bird and much 

 other interesting and instructive reading. 



It is said that the Mockingbird 

 can be taught to whistle a tune. 

 And I suppose it could be easily 

 done. Have any of the readers 

 of the H. O. and O. anything to 

 offer on this subject? 



I read Mr. Gibh's article on 

 I the "Foot Movements of Birds" 



