180 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



Its alarm note is a loud smack or chick, very incisive, and 

 frequently followed by a mournful whistle. It also makes a 

 hissing or wheezing sound, which is often heard when it is 

 defending its young. 



Fig. 59. Brown Thrasher, one-half natural size. 



The Brown Thrasher feeds largely on insects. As it 

 usually retires during the breeding season to scrubby lands 

 or sprout growth near woodland, it takes very little culti- 

 vated fruit, and the small amount of corn it consumes is 

 usually more than made up for by the white grubs taken from 



