24 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 



per-and-salt of reddish-brown. These minute dots tend to ag- 

 gregate at the great end, around which they sometimes form 

 a perfect wreath. Their length varies from .98 to 1.12 inches, 

 with a mean of 1.05 ; their breadth ranges from .75 to .87 of an 

 inch, with a mean of .83. Two broods are raised each season. 



In the duties of incubation it is probable that the males fre- 

 quently share, although some observers say that the female alone 

 sits on the eggs. Thirteen or fourteen days are required to 

 hatch them, the time depending somewhat upon the weather. 

 Both jDarents watch over each other and their charge with great 

 care and anxiety, wreaking instant vengeance upon all intruders. 

 Like the cat-bird, the thrasher is often called upon to resist a 

 dreaded enemy — the black-snake — which coils himself around 

 the beautiful structui-e and devours the callow young in spite 

 of the frenzied parents, who fight so recklessly as often to fall 

 a prey to their own temerity. I myself have seen it. The ter- 

 rible beauty, the black, shining folds, the easy gliding move- 

 ments, the erect head, jewel-eyes, tongue "playing like subtile 

 flame," bring to mind the great myth of the Tempter and his in- 

 trusion into that first home long ago, and make us wonder 

 whether, after all, the woman was really to blame for yielding 

 under the terrible fascination of such a presence. 



When the nest is taken the thrashers utter a guttural, whin- 

 ing complaint, and follow the person who carries it away. 

 The mother's call to her little ones consists of tender, solicitous 

 whistling, followed by a few smacking clucks, not very loud. 

 The male rarely sings to his mate close to the nest, fearing to 

 attract attention. They are intolerant of any tampering with 

 their eggs, and readily detect imposition. Dr.T. M. Brewer re- 

 moved three eggs from one of their nests and left three robins' 

 eggs. In a few moments the female approached, gave the con- 

 tents of the nest a hasty survey, and immediately flew off". 

 She returned in a short time in company with her mate, and 

 both flew to the nest, apparently in the greatest rage, took each 

 an Q.^^ in their claws and dashed it against the ground at the 

 distance of more than a rod from the nest, the female repeating 

 the same with the other &%%. This done, they continued to vent 

 their rage on the broken eggs and afterward forsook ihc nest. 



