Part 49

Range. Nests from Arkansas and North Carolina to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, very abundant T.V., Apl, 15-May; Aug. 19-Sept. 30; a few breed. Ossining, common S.R., May 1-Oct. 3. Cambridge, abundant S.R., May 5-Sept. 20. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 27-Sept. 20. Glen Ellyn. not common S.R., common T.V., May 3-Oct. 5. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 2-Sept. 22.

His bright colors, graceful, aerial pirouetting, abundance, and frequently uttered song make the Redstart the most conspicuous as well as one of the most attractive of our woodland Warblers. So exquisite a creature should be as widely known as are violets or daisies. The Redstart builds its well-made nest in a crotch, usually about fifteen feet above the ground. The 4-5 grayish white eggs, spotted and blotched chiefly at the larger end, are laid in mid-May.

WAGTAILS AND PIPITS. FAMILY MOTACILLIDÆ

AMERICAN PIPIT

Anthus rubescens. Case 4, Fig. 62; Case 5, Fig. 17

Outer tail-feathers white, bill slender, back grayish. L. 6-1/2.

Range. Nests from Newfoundland to Greenland; winters from Maryland to Florida and Mexico.

Washington, W.V., sometimes abundant, Oct. 2-May 12. Ossining, common T.V., Mch. 26-(?); Sept. 24-Nov. 16. Cambridge, T.V., abundant Sept. 20-Nov. 10; rare Apl. 10-May 20. N. Ohio, common T.V., Apl. 6-May 20; Oct. 19. Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., Apl. 15-; Sept. 30-Oct. 18. SE. Minn., common T.V., May 4-; Oct.

At first glance a Pipit might be mistaken for a Sparrow--let us say, a Vesper Sparrow; but note that it walks, instead of hops, that it constantly wags or 'tips' its tail, that it has a slender, not stout bill. Meadows, pastures, plowed fields, golf-courses, are frequented by Pipits, usually in flocks of a dozen or more. When flushed, with a faint dee-dee, they bound lightly into the air but usually soon return to earth.

Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spraguei), a slightly smaller species, nests in Montana, Dakota, and northward, and is sometimes found in small numbers on the coast of South Carolina and Georgia in winter.

THRASHERS, MOCKINGBIRDS, ETC. FAMILY MIMIDÆ

MOCKINGBIRD

Mimus polyglottos polyglottos. Case 4; Fig. 76

To be confused in color only with the Loggerhead Shrike, but larger, with a longer tail, no black on the face and totally different habits. L. 10-1/2.

Range. Nests from the Gulf to Iowa and Maryland; rarely to Massachusetts; winters from Maryland southward.

Washington, uncommon P.R., less numerous in winter. Cambridge, rare S.R., Mch. to Nov.

No southern garden is complete without a Mockingbird to guard its treasures with his harsh alarm-note and extol its beauties in his brilliant, varied song. He is to the South what the Robin is to the North--and more, for he is present throughout the year while the Robin is with us only during the nesting season.

The Mocker builds in bushes, orange-trees or other dense vegetation, from late March, in southern Florida, to early May in Virginia. The 4-6 eggs are blue heavily marked with brown.

CATBIRD

Dumatella carolinensis. Case 4, Fig. 81; Case 6, Fig. 71

Both sexes of the Catbird wear the same costume at all seasons and all ages. L. 9.

Range. Nests from Florida and Texas to Canada winters from South Carolina to the tropics.

Washington, abundant S.R., Apl. 34-Oct. 11; occasionally winters. Ossining, common S.R. Apl. 28-Oct. 25. Cambridge, abundant S.R., May 6-Oct. 1; occasional in winter. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 21-Oct. 5. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Apl. 29-Oct. 6. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 30-Oct. 6.

If the Catbird's name were based on his song instead of on his call-note, he might have won the popularity he deserves, but which seems forever denied him. Taking kindly to civilization he makes his home near ours, asking only the shelter of our shrubbery and a share of our small fruits in return for three months of music such as but few birds can produce.

The Catbird nests in bushes and thickets laying 3-5 greenish blue eggs in May.

BROWN THRASHER

Toxostoma rufum. Case 4, Fig. 82; Case 6, Fig. 72