THE BROWN THRUSH. 185 



of rendering it into our kind of language. Thoreau 

 tells us that the farmers who hear it first in planting 

 time agree in making it say, " Drop it, drop it, cover 

 it up, cover it up, pull it up, pull it up." The ringing 

 notes can be heard quite a third of a mile away. 



This picture only shows its general appearance. If 

 you compare it with the Robin, you will see that the 

 wings are shorter, and the tail longer in proportion. 



In color it has rust red, but it is on the back, 

 rather than the breast, which latter is white, with 

 black spots shaped like arrowheads, all pointed for- 

 ward. The two white bands across the wings also 

 help to distinguish it. 



It builds its nest either on the ground or in some 

 high bush, and its eggs are speckled with reddish 

 brown ; but when it intends to sing, it is apt to fly to 

 the topmost twig of a high tree, like another bird we 

 have met in our Bird- World journey. 



