22 
HARPORIIYNCHUS RUFUS. 
huge, brown trunks of innumerable pine trees, crowned with dark green foliage. An isolated 
magnolia stood near us, just to the southward, with its glossy leaves brought into fine relief by 
a drapery of Spanish moss. Beyond this rose abruptly a hummock, composed of live oaks, sweet 
gum, bay, black walnut, and various other trees, beneath which, especially on the margin, was 
a luxuriant growth of high saw palmettos, mingled with shrubs. The whole was covered and 
interwoven with a tangled mass of vines. 
This dense thicket was literally filled with birds, and we were awakened in the morning by 
the numerous sounds which issued from it. We could distinguish the whistle of the Towhee, 
the chirp of the Cardinal, the faint lisp of the Gnat Catcher, the enchanting song of the Great 
Carolina Wren, and the notes of many other species, coming to our ears in the wildest confusion, 
and forming a complete medley. But prominent among them all we could hear the peculiar 
utterance of the Brown Thrushes. They have a singular note, apparently half a hiss aud half a 
whistle, which is given at sunrise and sunset, throughout the autumn and winter. Judging by 
the noise I should think there were twenty or more of these birds in the humm ock; but they 
were shy, and took care not to show themselves. Indeed, I have always found them hard to 
approach anywhere in Florida, making it difficult to procure specimens, although they are 
quite abundant throughout the northern portions of the interior. They invariably inhabit the 
almost impenetrable underbrush while in the State. 
They migrate northward about April 1st, arriving in New England the first of May, where 
they frequent the edges of woods and clumps of bushes which grow along fence rows and waste 
places. The males begin to sing as soon as they arrive. They may be seen perched in 
elevated situations, every morning and evening, and sometimes throughout the day, pouring 
forth their most delightful strains. The song consists of imitations of the notes of several 
species, which, although given with deliberation, are energetic, and generally quite accurately 
rendered. He contents himself with practising but a few lays, among which those of the Robin 
and the Bobolink are the best. These melodies are so ingeniously arranged with some fine ones 
of his own, and given with such spirit, that the whole forms a harmony which can scarcely be 
surpassed by any of our native species. The performer is very calm when he sings, only ruffling 
his feathers slightly, and occasionally fluttering his wings, forming a striking contrast in this 
respect with the nervous and restless manner of the Cat Bird. 
There seems to be a preference existing among them for certain perches. I have seen quite 
a combat ensue before one which occupied a particular tree would yield his place to an opposer, 
who finally won, and, hopping upon the disputed bough, sang triumphantly, while the deposed 
bird, without being in the least disconcerted by the affair, answered him from a neighboring tree. 
They continue to sing from their arrival until the conclusion of the season of incubation. 
These birds build among the low bushes, placing their nests upon the ground, or near it, 
without the slightest attempt at concealment. They are very assiduous in defending their eggs 
and young, and are not at all shy at this time, especially the female, which will permit one to 
approach within a few feet of her, when she is sitting. They have a loud alarm note, and if 
disturbed, when breeding, will sound it with such energy as to call many feathered friends to 
their assistance. The young are fully fledged by the first of July, and moult, with the adults, 
during the first of August. At this time the young follow their parents, and the party will 
return every night to roost near the spot where the nest was placed. About the middle of 
September they collect into larger flocks, and by the first of October nearly all have passed 
into the south; I have, however, met with stragglers in Massachusetts as late as the first of 
December. 
The Brown Thrushes are in no way injurious to the husbandman, but, on the contrary, do 
much good by devouring many noxious insects; therefore if we do not extend our protection 
to them on account of their fine songs, we must certainly acknowledge their general usefulness, 
and not allow them to be wantonly destroyed. 
