. Birds of North Carolina . eard it reproduce the notes of the Brown-headed Nuthatch to perfection,and have been misled by its copy of the Killdeers cry. One bad feature it has iskeeping too late hours, as it wU frequently render its best musical performancesclose by ones open window on a hot summer night, when ones chief need issleep. Most of us, however, are quite ready to forgive it for these disturbances. It is very pugnacious when its nest is apjiroached, and will fearlessly drive dogsand cats from its neighborhood. While preeminently an insectivorous l^ird, like most of the larger insect
. Birds of North Carolina . eard it reproduce the notes of the Brown-headed Nuthatch to perfection,and have been misled by its copy of the Killdeers cry. One bad feature it has iskeeping too late hours, as it wU frequently render its best musical performancesclose by ones open window on a hot summer night, when ones chief need issleep. Most of us, however, are quite ready to forgive it for these disturbances. It is very pugnacious when its nest is apjiroached, and will fearlessly drive dogsand cats from its neighborhood. While preeminently an insectivorous l^ird, like most of the larger insect-eaters,it also consmnes many berries, such as frostgrapes in i,\inter and mulberries in 310 Birds of Jsorth Cakulixa summer, and occasionally makes itself somewhat of a nviisanco in the strawljcrrypatch or the vineyard. The Mockingbirds good habits, nevertheless, far outweighany evil it may do, and it is well worthy of the protection it recoivos in the Stateby law and by the the still stronger safeguard of puljlic Fig. 233. Mockinghirh. Genus Dumetella (S. D. W.)316. Dumetella carolinensis (Linn.). Catbiki>. Dcarriiiliou. l):iik sliily ^ray; crown and black; under tail-covorts chestnut. of 10 Hiiliinli specimens: I,., S.:i.) ; W., .!.) ii.); ]., :i.)()-I.(),S. Range.—Eastern \ortii America, wintering in the soiitliern United States and in North Carolina.—Whole State in summer, wintering in the eastern section. The Catbird arrives in the central and western portions of this State about theclose of the third week in April, and loaves us late in October. At Raleigh it hasbeen observed by U. 11. and C. S. Hriinlcy four times in winter during twcnty-si.\years of observation. We have no winter records of it farther west. In the eastDr. Smith\\ick says lie has observed it in mild winters in Beaufort and Bertiecounties, but docs not think it always remains. Sherman saw a number near Lake Desceiptive List 311 Mattamu
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Keywords: ., bookauthorpearsontgilbertthomasgilbert18731943, bookcentury1900
