WESTERN BIRDS Thrush 



no especial attention to this brown streak, but presently 

 we noticed that it kept going into a pine tree that grew 

 beside us and on further investigation we easily located 

 the nest, which was placed about twelve feet from the 

 ground, about half way between the end of the pine 

 branch and the trunk of the tree. It was a bulky affair, 

 being placed in a piece of eucalyptus bark which had 

 lodged in the pine tree, and whose leaves almost con- 

 cealed the nest. The bird was bringing in fine fibers 

 which were evidently the finishing touches. Her man- 

 ner of coming and going was in the straight, even flight 

 of these birds, full of business with no loitering by the 

 wayside. So quietly and rapidly did she work that it 

 required a constant watch not to miss her coming and 

 going. In twenty-five minutes she made six trips, stay- 

 ing each time about two minutes in arranging the ma- 

 terial and shaping the nest. 



For several more days the female fussed over that 

 nest, and once I saw her mate inspect it, but she seemed 

 to be doing the building. 



It was June 1st before brooding began. Sometimes I 

 heard the male singing in the distance, but for the most 

 part, it was as quiet about the nest as if no birds were 

 there. The female did not in the least mind my watch- 

 ing her and slipped off for food, and back again in her 

 quiet way. 



The last time I watched at the nest, June 25th, there 

 were three fully feathered nestlings, and they were the 

 sweetest of bird babies, that quite resembled their par- 

 ents. They were making a weak noise and stirring about 

 in the nest. 



In an hour's watching the old birds came with food 

 ten times, feeding more than one bird each time and 

 that more than once, showing that many insects were 

 fed each time. 



As I watched one of the young birds hopped from 

 365 



