is why \vf call tlifiii thrashers." This soiiiKk-d "lishy" to inc. and was not satisfv- 

 \ng. I resolved to ohserve personally and larcfnlly The result of my ohserva- 

 tions may he of interest to your readers. 



When making love to his lady fair he selects a level hit of j^roun<l closely 

 screened by overhan^'inj:^ hushes. IVom this he removes all leaves and ^rass 

 and ruhhish sweepiufj the j)lace clean. If conditions are favorahle he will some- 

 times prepare two or three of these thrashing places adjacent to one antjthcr. 

 Hither he calls his sweetheart, and on her arrival he hegins a grotesfjue dance, 

 ho|)pin}^ and cavorting; in a fantastic manner, and. jtnnpin}^ up a foot or two, he 

 strikes the earth with cupped wince's, making^ a sound out of all proportion to his 

 size. This may he distinctly heard at a distance of from two hundred to three 

 hundred feet. 



There is douhtless some analogy hctween this performance, the strutting of 

 the turkey gohbler and the drunmiing of the male grouse. It seems to be an 

 attempt to charm his lady fair. I do not know that a full-grown man could 

 succeed in witnessing it. hut 1 am sure that a small, barefoot boy could do so. 

 lUit any one may hear his marvellous song. 



It should he remembered, however, that the i)eriod during which the thrush 

 sings is brief indeed, covering in Xew Kngland scarcely more than two or three 

 weeks in May. The catbird sings longer. He may he heard on almost any 

 morning, w-elcoming the sunrise with his sweet and joyful music. Again in the 

 late- afteriioon he delights in speeding the .jiarting day with his t,dorious song. 

 He often continues to sing through June and even into July. 



He is a willing assistant to the maternal catbird, acconi|)anying her on all 

 her journeys in search for food for their hungry family, yet he is a happy-go- 

 lucky sort of fellow ; good cheer is his middle name. On his account the world 

 is a brighter place to live in. Human husbands might well learn a lesson from 

 him. 



The paternal thrush takes life more seriously, hrom the time when the 

 first brown splotched eggs are laid in the nest under the birch tree, he devotes 

 himself to the mother thrush, and later on to the little thrushes, not even taking 

 time to sing, and you will not have the privilege of again hearing his wonderful 

 music until next year. This may be the reason why so few become acquainted 

 with him and learn to know and love his wonderful song. He is also one of the 

 first birds to migrate to the south, leaving us as soon as the young are strong 

 enough to imdertake the journey. 



When waves of Summer heat roll o'er the land. 



Is Nature robed in coolest, freshest green ; 

 But when cold nights and frosts are near at hand. 



Her raiment is the brightest to be seen. 



Emma Peirce. 



919 



