BROWN THRASHER 367 



It was in the latter half of June that the brown thrasher first appeared at our 

 home near Rantoul, 111. My mother and sister were at work on the back porch 

 when the bird alighted on the ground. Its apparent tameness attracted their 

 attention, and when it flew to a nearby fence-post my sister went out to it. 

 When she approached, the bird flew to her shoulder, where it stayed contentedly 

 for at least 3 minutes. 



For 2 days it stayed about the place, not in the least afraid, in no wise con- 

 cerned about household activities carried on about it. It allowed the various 

 members of the family to pet it, while it perched upon an arm or shoulder ; it ate 

 cherries that my brother fed it, while he held it in his hand ; and it showed not 

 the least objection to having its picture taken. The second day it disappeared 

 and we saw it no more. 



The brown thrasher lives in the lower levels of the trees and shrub- 

 bery, except when it mounts to the top of some outstanding tree to 

 sing its springtime challenge. It is especially at home upon the 

 ground, where it probably spends most of its time, walking or running 

 with short easy strides, or hopping about when in no hurry. If neces- 

 sary it can run quite fast to catch some insect prey; or it can cover 

 considerable ground with a series of long high hops, where walking 

 or running is not convenient. The use of its strong bill to obtain its 

 food is explained in the section headed Food (p. 363) . 



Its flight is rather slow and, apparently, heavy ; its short wings are 

 not adapted for swift or protracted flight ; it usually flies low and not 

 for any great distances unless in crossing an open field or a river. We 

 often see the long, brown bird in the middle of a country road, taking 

 a dust bath in some dusty hollow, or picking up the grain in scattered 

 horse droppings ; when thus disturbed, it spreads its long, handsome 

 tail, makes a short low flight, and disappears in the roadside shrubbery 

 or glides over the top of a half -hidden stone wall and swoops down 

 into cover. It is equally at home in the thickets, running to cover 

 when approached and dodging skillfully through the brier tangles 

 to escape. 



Mr. Skinner (1928) says: "They are very fond of bathing, espe- 

 cially when the weather gets warm in spring. In earthenware 

 saucers, they will bathe when it is as cold as 55° F., and when it is 

 warmer they bathe regularly twice a day. But they do not stop taking 

 shower-baths just because artificial baths are available. They are 

 even out in steady rains, thoroughly shaking themselves as the heavy 

 raindrops soak their plumage." 



We do not know yet quite how long birds may live, as we have not 

 been banding birds long enough, or extensively enough, to be sure that 

 we have trapped the oldest bird. Several brown thrashers have been 

 reported as from 8 to 10 years old, but the oldest one seems to be the 

 bird reported by Miss Marion A. Boggs (1939) which, on the eleventh 

 return, was at least 13 years old. 



Voice. — The brown thrasher is one of our best and most spectacular 

 singers ; his loud, striking spring song, once heard, can never be for- 



