Thrasher, Brown. Brown Thrush 



he may be distinguished from all other thrush-like birds 

 by the two white wing-bars and the extraordinarily long 

 tail. 



M. A. WiLLcox. Common Land Birds of New England 



29 



He is an active, suspicious bird, who does not Hke to 

 be watched, and expresses his annoyance with an unpleasant 

 kissing note or sharply whistled wheeu. 



Chapman. Handbook of Birds.^^ 



His song is a sort of recitative, often resembling spoken 

 words rather than musical notes, many of which are short 



and guttural An ingenious shoemaker .... 



gave me the following words: ''Look up, look up, — Glory 

 to God, glory to God, — Hallelujah, Amen, Videhcet." 



Flagg. a Year With the Birds.^^ 



While you are planting the seed, he cries, "Drop it, 

 drop it, — cover it up, cover it up, — pull it up, pull it up 

 pull it up. " 



Thoreau. 



When he sings he takes the very top of a tree, although 

 usually it is not a tall one. There he stands by the half- 

 hour together, head up and tail down, pouring out a flood 

 of music; sounds of all sorts, high notes and low notes, 

 smooth notes and rough notes, all jumbled together in 

 the craziest fashion, as if the musician were really beside 

 himself. It is a performance worth buying a ticket for 

 and going miles to hear. 



ToRREY. Every Day Birds.^^ 



153 



