. . ond-growthoak, elm, and hickory are found. The white outer tailfeathers and small size are unmistakable field marks. These interesting little birds ^eem to have a spirit ofadventure in pursuit of food. They have been seen enteringa long, small water pipe used as a hitching-rack for horses,and would traverse the entire distance, emerging from theother end. The nest of the blue-gray gnatcatcher is one of the mar-vels in bird architecture. Externally covered with lichensheld in place by cobwebs, it is securely saddled on a hori-zont
. . ond-growthoak, elm, and hickory are found. The white outer tailfeathers and small size are unmistakable field marks. These interesting little birds ^eem to have a spirit ofadventure in pursuit of food. They have been seen enteringa long, small water pipe used as a hitching-rack for horses,and would traverse the entire distance, emerging from theother end. The nest of the blue-gray gnatcatcher is one of the mar-vels in bird architecture. Externally covered with lichensheld in place by cobwebs, it is securely saddled on a hori-zontal limb eighteen to forty feet above the ground. Onthe inside the nest is warmly lined with plant down, andfrom below one can scarcely distinguish the nest from aknot on the limb. It looks much like the nest of a hum-ming-bird. The four or five greenish eggs are daintily speckled withdark brown. In Ohio and southern Michigan nest buildingcommences about May 15th, and the eggs are deposited latein May or early in June. The period of incubation is aboutten BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. (Polioptila carulea) % Life-size. COPYRIGHT 1900, BY A. W. MUMFORD, CHt( CHAPTER XXI THRUSHES Thrushes are unquestionably the sweetest-voiced birds inAmerica, though inferior to some other songsters in execu-tion. These birds are all migratory, returning regularly toa given locality in April or May to breed. They live uponworms, winged insects, berries, and fruit. They are notsociable while nesting, but migrate in flocks, and are usuallygregarious also in winter. Their bodies are cylindrical. Theplumage on the upper parts is usually a uniform color ofblue, brown, or gray. On the basis of certain details of structure thrushes aregenerally assigned highest rank in the class of Aves. With-out pausing to discuss the value of the characters on whichthis classification is made, there can be no question that froman aesthetic standpoint the thrushes possess in a greaterdegree than any other birds those qua
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