139 



and she paid not the slightest regard to it but went directly 

 to the nest. Unfortunately the sun shining through the 

 leaves caused a spotty background and made many shadows 

 about the nest. Usually it is possible to tie branches out 

 of the way so as to get good surroundings and light, but in 

 this case they would not admit of so doing. 



Fig. 120. Spiders, too, ivere often brought to appeasi 

 hunger of the little thrashers. 



the 



The three young birds were about a week old, — just large 

 enough to commence to take an interest in things going 

 on about them. They had very acute and discriminating 

 hearing; other birds were singing in all directions about us 

 but they always heard mother Thrasher's low whistle. 



