pression of pure amazement. The jay, doubtless, had had many a pitched battle 

 of his own, but equally doubtless he had never before looked on a sight like this. 

 Here were two models of deportment descending to the level of the prize-ring. 

 I know that the jay, like the human observer, wanted to cry "shame," but also, 

 like the human observer, was kept from it l)y the fear of being thought incon- 

 sistent. The two feathered morsels fought for fully two minutes, and then the 

 nuthatch turned tail and fled. He took to the trunk of a big tree, and there, head 

 downward, began searching for food as unconcernedly as though he had never 

 forgotten for an instant what was due to his fame as a bird of correct habit. 

 The chickadee remained on the battle-ground, and in a moment he uttered his 

 "phoebe" note, though whether it was intended as a cock's crow of victory or not 

 must remain a secret. 



There have been one or two grave discussions as to whether birds are 

 deficient in the sense of smell. I came to the conclusion during my southern 

 Indiana sojourn that some birds must be deficient in both the senses of taste and 

 smell. In Orange County is situated a group of springs famous for their healing 

 qualities, and — dare I say it? — infamous for their taste and smell. 



The Varied Thrush (ixoreus naevius) 



Length, about 10 inches. Its large size and dark slate-colored upper parts, 

 black breast collar, orange brown stripe over eye and orange brown under parts 

 mark this thrush apart from all others. 



Range : Breeds on the Pacific coast from Yakutat Bay, Alaska, south to 

 Humboldt County, California ; winters from southern Alaska to northern Cali- 

 fornia. 



This, one of our largest and finest thrushes, is limited to the west coast, 

 where it finds a congenial summer home in the depths of the coniferous forests, 

 the mystery and loneliness of which seem reflected in its nature. Although the 

 Varied Thrush somewhat suggests our robin, it is much shyer, and its habits and 

 notes are very different, making it more nearly akin to the small olive thrushes. 

 It nests in the conifers, and its eggs, unlike those of the robin, are heavily blotched 

 with brown. Its song, a single long-drawn note, has been greatly praised, and 

 seems entirely in harmony with the bird's surroundings, being weird and inspiring. 

 In winter the Varied Thrush abandons the forest and with it many of the habits 

 of the recluse, and visits more open districts, including ravines and even gardens, 

 where it becomes quite familiar. 



This thrush, like its smaller brethren, feeds chiefly on the ground, and its 

 food is largely of vegetable nature, but includes a fair proportion of insects, with 

 ^illepeds and snails. Unless its habits are greatly modified by the encroachment 

 of civilization on its domain it is not likely to be much of a factor in agricultural 

 afifairs, but it will continue to make itself useful by destroying the insect enemies 

 of forest trees. 



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