90 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS. 



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Polioptilot axrulea. 



The gnatcatcher is a common summer resident, particularly in tim- 

 bered river bottoms and the big swamps of the Sunken Lands. It is 

 reported as a breeder at Clinton, Newport, and Helena, and I found it 

 plentiful at Lake City, Walker Lake, Turrell, Wilmot, Womble, and 

 Mammoth Spring. None were observed on Rich Mountain and only 

 one at Pettigrew. The first arrivals in spring reach Helena about 

 March 15, and the last seen in fall were noted October 28. Nest 

 building sometimes begins by March 30, and by May 1 or sooner the 

 young are hatched. This bird apparently has no special predilection 

 for gnats, as its name seems to suggest, but feeds upon a variety of 

 small Hymenoptera, beetles, flies, caterpillars, and spiders. 



Wood Thrush. Hylocichla mustelina. 



The wood thrush is a common summer resident in all parts of the 

 State. As its name indicates, it is a woodland dweller, preferring 

 heavy deciduous forests on the mountains and in river bottoms. The 

 species arrives at Helena from the south about April 10 (earliest rec- 

 ord, April 4) and takes its departure in October. The last was seen 

 at Delight October 8. It is reported as breeding at Clinton, New- 

 port, and Helena. I found it numerous at , McGehee, Camden, 

 Womble, Rich Mountain, Pettigrew, Chester, and Mammoth Spring. 

 Only a few were observed in the Sunken Lands, but McAtee found 

 them numerous at Big Lake in June, 1911. 



The food of this bird consists largely of insects, with a small per- 

 centage of fruit. The insects eaten include grasshoppers, crickets, 

 cutworms, ants, caterpillars, and beetles, including the potato beetle. 

 The fruit consumed is chiefly of wild varieties, such as frost grapes, 

 wild blackberries, wild cherries, and the seeds of the spicebush and 

 southern magnolia. Since the wood thrush is a decidedly useful 

 species and adapts itself readily to civilized surroundings, its presence 

 about the farm and garden should always be encouraged. 



Willow Thrush. Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola. 



The willow thrush, the western form of the veery, is a common 

 migrant in the Mississippi Valley, breeding from Iowa northward. 

 It is noted by Mrs. Stephenson nearly every spring at Helena between 

 April 18 and May 19, the majority passing north during the first week 

 of May and south during late September and early October. It has 

 been observed also at Clinton and doubtless will be found generally 

 throughout the State during migration. The food of this species is 

 similar to that of the other thrushes, and includes a variety of insects 

 and wild fruits. 



