44 Birds Every Child Should Know 



other times he may keep himself concealed 

 among the shrubbery, when about to sing, he 

 chooses a conspicuous perch as if to attract 

 attention to his truly brilliant performance. 



The thrasher has been called a ground 

 "thrush" because it so often chooses to place 

 its nest at the roots of tall weeds in an open 

 field ; but a low bush frequently suits it quite as 

 well. Its bulky nest is not a very choice piece 

 of architecture. Twigs, leaves, vine tendrils, 

 and bits of bark form its walls, and the speckled, 

 greenish blue eggs within are usually laid upon 

 a lining of fine black rootlets. 



THE CATBIRD 



Slim, lithe, elegant, dainty, the catbird, as 

 he runs lightly over the lawn or hunts among 

 the shrubbery, appears to be a fine gentleman 

 among his kind — a sort of Beau Brummel in 

 smooth, gray feathers who has preened and 

 prinked until his toilet is quite faultless. You 

 would not be surprised to hear that he slept 

 on rose petals and manicured his claws. He is 

 among the first to discover the bathing dish or 

 drinking pan that you have set up in your 

 garden, for he is not too squeamish, in spite of 

 his fine appearance, to drink from his bath. 

 With well-poised, black-capped head erect, and 



