CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 2. PASSERES. 
133 
it remains m flocks around the woods and dells till November, when it migrates southward, yet 
moving only so far as may be necessary for obtaining food. Many of them remain during mild 
winters in the forests of New Jersey, though in general the greater part proceed as far as the 
Southern States. In autumn, throughout New England and the Middle States, being fat and 
greatly relished, thousands of them are killed for the table. 
The Brown or Ferruginous Thrush, T. rufus — the Thrasher of New England, and French 
MocMng-Bird of the Middle and Southern States — is the largest of our thrushes, being eleven 
and a balf inches long. It has a varied and beautiful song, not of imitated but original notes, 
-■'sually poured out at evening from the top of some tree near its nest. Its haunts are in low, 
thick bushes, where it seeks concealment, though often seen glancing from one bush to another. 
Its food consists of worms, caterpillars, and berries, and it rears two broods in a season. Its colors 
are bright reddish-brown above ; lower parts yellowish-white, beautifully marked with spots run- 
ning in chains. It is easily tamed, and is not only a fine songster, but displays great intelligence. 
During the warm season it extends from Florida to Canada. 
The Wood-Thrush, T. melodius, inhabits the whole of North America, from Texas to Hud- 
son's Bay, arriving in the Middle States in May, and retiring in October. It is eight inches long ; 
above fulvous-brown, below white, tinged with buff. It is shy, living in pairs in low, thick-shaded 
glens and hollows. Its nest is of withered leaves and stalks of grass, naixed with mud, and nicely 
plastered, the interior being lined with fine fibrous roots of plants ; the eggs are four to five. 
This is one of our most pleasing songsters. 
The GoLDEN-CROWNED Thrush or OvEN-BiRD, T. aurocapillus, is a summer visitant through- 
out most of the United States ; it is six inches long, of a yellow-olive above and white beneath. 
It is shy and retiring, and sits and runs along the ground like a lark. Its nest is sunk in the 
ground on some dry, bushy bank, being oven-shaped, and made of dry blades of grass ; it is 
covered exteriorly with leaves and twigs, to match the surface around, for the purpose of conceal- 
ment. It rears two broods in a season, and not unfrequently becomes the foster-parent of young 
cow-troopials, whose mothers surreptitiously deposit their eggs in the nest. Its food consists of insects. 
The Aquatic Thrush, or New York Warbler, T. aquaticus, haunts the borders of streams, 
and often wades in shallow rivulets in search of aquatic insects, moving its tail as it follows its 
prey, and chattering as it flies. It is six inches long, dark olive above, and extends its migrations 
throughout the United States, 
The Cat-Bird, T.felivox or T. lividus, is one of our most familiar birds, coming from the south in 
spring, and breeding in bushes and thickets, from which it frequently utters its cry, resembling the 
vigorous mewing of a cat, at the same time assuming an appearance of the greatest agitation and 
anxiety. It is nine inches long, of a dark slate-color, and paler beneath. Its food consists of 
insects, beetles, and various garden fruits, especially cherries. It is a fine songster, its notes re- 
sembling those of the ferruginous thrush, though they are often made up in part of blended imi- 
tations of other birds. This song, often heard late in the evening as well as early in the morning, 
is very pleasing. Yet the cat-bird is a common object of persecution, especially to boys in the 
country, who seldom let an opportunity slip to hurl a stone at it. This arises, no doubt, from a sort 
of impertinent familiarity which this bird assumes, and from its caterwaul, which, as it is uttered 
from its bushy retreat, often appears like a meditated personal insult to the passer by. The cat- 
bird is also a notorious cherry thief, and, taking the best, naturally provokes hostility. 
The Curved-billed Thrush — Toxostoma rediviva of Gambel — is eleven and a half inches 
long, ligbt brown above, breast and sides light brown, tinged with rufous ; an exquisite and pow- 
erful songster, equal to the brown thrusb ; found in California and New Mexico. 
The Tawny Thrush, T. Wilsonii, is ten inches long, and of a tawny-brown above and white 
below ; it comes from the south in May, and has no song but a sharp chuck. 
The Hermit-Thrush, T. solitarius, is seven inches long ; deep olive above, and dull white be- 
low ; is stationary in the Southern States. 
The Varied Thrush, T. ncevius, is ten inches long; above leaden-gray, below reddish-orange; 
found in California and the fur countries. 
The Dwarf Thrush, T. nanus, is six inches long ; olive-brown above, beneath grayish-white ; 
found on the Columbia River. 
