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WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



packed and felted together leaf by leaf, or grass 

 blade by grass blade, dead leaves and fiber, so 

 that the whole is as compact and snug as if dried 

 mud. They pack the material when it is wet, 

 and so it adheres firmly. Their nests never crack, 

 like mud nests, but seem a part of the damp, cool 

 nooks they are placed in. The eggs are greenish 

 blue, spotted with brown, and you may find four 

 or five. Leave them to the nest, and you may 

 have the fun of seeing russet-backed baby 

 thrushes before they have much else but skin on 

 their backs. 



The varied thrush is quite different from either 

 the hermit or russet-back. It is as large as a 

 robin, and is often called the Oregon robin. But 

 with the varied thrush as with its relatives, you 



must be up early to see 

 it. And you must be very 

 quiet. You will never 

 f see a varied thrush in 



winter if you make any noise 

 or walk rapidly about. Like 

 the hermit and the russet-back, 

 it loves best to be alone, except 

 at nesting-time. The varied 

 thrushes come south in winter, 

 THE VABIED THRUSH, and we know they are here by 



