MixNicH] OBSERJ'ATIOXS OX BIRD FAMILIES 



29 



is interesting to note that while the largest number of trips for one 

 hour. 13, occurred between the hours of one and two, the number 

 in the hour following this, drops to a single visit. It w^as a warm 

 day in mid July, and this time was probably spent by the parents 

 for rest and feeding themselves. Sometimes the trips to the 

 nest were only a minute apart, the longest interval of 58 minutes 

 occurring after the single trip between 2 and 3 o'clock. The 

 nest was cleaned 14 times during the day or on an average of 

 once every hour. The parent birds obtained most of the food 

 very close to the nest. Hence, they were under observation 

 practically all of the time. The greater part of the food was ob- 

 tained from the ground, the remainder being procured from the 

 trees and bushes close to the nest. Once a mulberry was fed to 

 the young. With this single exception, the food was entirely 

 of insects. 



Since most of the insects consumed were probably injurious, 

 it is certain that the greater part of the food of this Thrasher 

 family, consisted of harmful insects. - Because of this ability 

 in destroying insects, the Brown Thrasher is an extremely valu- 

 able asset to every field or garden, the bordering thickets and 

 hedgerows of which, may invite it. 



Table shoiving Number and Frequency of Feedings of Young of 

 Brown Thrasher. 



90 



9.6 



The concluding study, appearing here, is a study of the 

 Wood Thrush. Although often thought of, as a bird frequenting 



