Birth of The Palisades Interstate Park 
43 
(he voluble roundelays being always very acceptable to appreciative 
ears. The House Wren is brownish above, with the wings and 
tail faintly barred with black, and grayish below. 
7. Brown Thrasher. Toxostoma rufum (Linn.) 
This species is commonly mentioned as one of the thrushes, but 
it has no relationship with this family, being closely related 
to the wrens. It can be readily distinguished from the true 
thrushes by its long pendant tail and its labored manner of flight. 
Its song is quite different from the productions of any true thrush, 
for it consists of a long series of varied phrases and expressions. 
The bird is better known than its relationship, however, and as it 
generally frequents the shrubbery near human habitations, where 
its songs are an enjoyable feature for bird lovers, this species is 
a general favorite. I found it nesting in the thickets of the boat 
landing grounds and near the Inn building, where .it added its 
voice to the morning and evening choruses of bird music. 
8. Catbird. Dumetella carolinensis (Linn.) 
The Catbird is well known by its peculiar cat-like scolding note, 
though hot all who know its call-note are familiar with its remark- 
able productions as a songster. Repeatedly, as it has uttered its 
brilliant recitals screened by convenient shrubbery, I have been 
asked what bird it was singing with such effect. The Catbird is 
easily identified by its uniform slaty gray color, except blackish on 
the top of the head and on the tail. I found it one of the common 
birds in the Bear Mountain locality, nesting in the shrubbery near 
the buildings, singing spiritedly throughout the breeding season. 
9. American Redstart. Setophaga ruticilla (Linn.) 
The Redstart is one of the common birds of the Bear Mountain 
locality. It is a very handsome warbler, with showy colors. The 
male has the head, throat, and upper parts black; the breast and 
sides are reddish orange, while the belly is white. The wings and 
tail are marked with salmon-red, these last markings showing con- 
spicuously as the male flutters about the foliage of the trees in 
gleaning its insect fare. The female has less showy attire, with 
