GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH. 37 



with reddish brown, chiefly near the great end. When alarmed it 

 escapes from the nest with great silence and rapidity, running along the 

 ground like a mouse, as if afraid to tread too heavily on the leaves ; if 

 you stop to examine its nest, it also stops, droops its wings, flutters and 

 tumbles along, as if hardly able to crawl, looking back now and then 

 to see whether you are taking notice of it. If you slowly follow, it 

 leads you fifty or sixty yards off, in a direct line from its nest, seeming 

 at every advance to be gaining fresh strength ; and when it thinks it 

 has decoyed you to a sufBcient distance, it suddenly wheels off and dis- 

 appears. This kind of deception is practised by many other species of 

 birds that build on the ground ; and is sometimes so adroitly performed 

 as actually to have the desired effect of securing the safety of its nest 

 and young. 



This is one of those birds frequently selected by the Cowpen Bunting 

 to be the foster-parent of its young. Into the nest of this bird the 

 Cow Bird deposits its egg, and leaves the result to the mercy and man- 

 agement of the Thrush, who generally performs the part of a faithful 

 and affectionate nurse to the foundling. 



The Golden-crowned Thrush is six inches long, and nine in extent ; 

 the whole upper parts, except the crown and hind head, are a rich 

 yellow olive ; the tips of the wings and inner vanes of the quills, are 

 dusky brown ; from the nostrils a black strip passes to the hind head 

 on each side, between which lies a bed of brownish orange ; the sides 

 of the neck are whitish ; the whole lower parts white, except the breast, 

 which is handsomely marked with pointed spots of black, or deep brown, 

 as in the figure ; round the eye is a narrow ring of yellowish white ; 

 legs pale flesh color ; bill dusky above, whitish below. The female has 

 the orange on the crown considerably paler. 



This bird might with propriety be ranged with the Wagtails, its notes, 

 manners, and habit of building on the ground being similar to these. 

 It usually hatches twice in the season ; feeds on small bugs, and the 

 larvae of insects, which it chiefly gathers from the ground. It is very 

 generally diffused over the United States ; and winters in Jamaica, 

 Hispa-niola, and other islands of the West Indies. 



