326 
PASSERIFORMES 
cover it up— pull it up, pull it up” The repetition of each variation is one 
of the peculiarities of the song of the Brown Thrasher, by which it may be 
distinguished from the Catbird. 
This is also a bird of the thickets inhabiting open tangles, clumps of 
bushes in meadows, and the edges of woods and fence-rows. The thrasher 
is rather more retiring than the Catbird and is less easily induced to come 
into the home grounds. 
Econoviic Status. A decidedly useful bird, over one-half of its food 
being injurious insects, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, etc. The 
remainder is largely fruit, a small part of which is probably cultivated and 
is mostly raspberries. On the whole it does little damage and much good. 
702. Sage Thrasher, la grive des sauges. Oreoscoples montanus. L, 8 00. Like 
a small, pale-coloured Brown Thrasher (See Plate LV A); back brownish ash instead of 
clear rufous-brown; in juvenility obscurely striped and feather-edged. Below, dull, creamy 
white, heavily and sharply spotted on throat, breast, and flanks with brown. 
Distinctions. Like a Brown Thrasher but much smaller, and in general dry-earth 
tones, instead of clear rufous-brown, and with white tips to the outer tail feathers. The 
back usually shows a slight suggestion of streaking, that of the Brown Thrasher never does. 
Nesting. In sage brush, nest of thorny sticks, slightly domed and lined with fine 
bark strips. 
Distribution. Western United States, in arid sage-brush plains. In Canada known 
from the southern Similkameen and Okanagan Valleys. There is one record for southern 
Saskatchewan. 
A bird of the hottest and driest sage-brush plains. Very shy and retir- 
ing and not to be seen except by the most enthusiastic and persistent 
student of birds. 
FAMILY TURDIDAE. ROBINS, BLUEBIRDS, THRUSHES, ETC. 
A nearly cosmopolitan family. Robins and bluebirds are familiar 
enough. The true thrushes are, in general, ground inhabiting birds; woody 
brown above, white below, usually with heavily dark-spotted breasts 
(Plates LVI B to LVIII A). 
761. American Robin, le merle d’am^rique. Turdus migratorius. L, 10. 
Plate LV B. Almost too well known to require much description. Above, dark greyish 
brown, blackening on tail and head, and extending over face to throat where it is broken 
into short white dashes. All breast and abdomen pure brick-red. Young birds have 
breast spotted with black and flecked with dull white. 
Distinctions. Size and full red breast distinguish the robin too well for mistake. 
Nesting. Frequently in fruit or shade trees or about buildings. Nest of coarse 
grasses, leaves, rootlets, etc., with an inner cup of mud, lined with fine grasses. 
Distribution. North America. In Canada across the Dominion, north to the limit 
of trees. 
SUBSPECIES. Canadian robins are divided into eastern and western subspecies. 
The Eastern Robin (le Merle d' Amerique de l’Est) Turdus migratorius migratorius extends 
west to the mountains. The Western Robin (le Merle d’Amerique de l’Ouest) Turdus 
migratorius propinquus occurs in British Columbia. It is stated to have the white thumb- 
marks on the outer tail feathers reduced, and the black of the head extending down in a 
less decided cape over the back. These points are too inconstant, however, for certain 
individual identification and, as the Eastern Robin occurs throughout British Columbia, 
on migration at least, the distinctions are rather fine for popular recognition. A North- 
western Robin (le Merle d’Amerique du Nord-Ouest) Turdus migratorius caurinus has 
been proposed. 
Of all the birds of North America there is none that comes into such 
close and intimate relationship with man as the robin. Its cheery voice 
