158 HANDBOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



8. The Brown Thrasher. 



Material and previous observations will be the same as for the cat- 

 bird. Most of the following lessons on birds will be given only in out- 

 line, the abbreviated language of which must not be used in the class. 



OUTLINE 



1. Description. Male and female distinctly reddish- 

 brown above, wings darker ; below, yellowish white, with 

 brown spots on breast and sides ; tail very long ; bill black, 

 almost awl-shaped, like that of the catbird and the robin ; 

 bird a little longer than the robin ; more shy than catbird 

 and robin ; female paler than male. 



2. Time of arrival and nest-building. 



3. Nest made of twigs, pieces of vine, grass, rootlets ; in 

 low bushes on the ground. Use an old nest to illustrate. 



4. Song. Describe from observation, if you can. Is it 

 superior to the catbird's and the robin's ? 



5. Food. Principally worms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, 

 crickets, beetles, and bugs ; cultivated fruit only about eight 

 per cent of the whole ; a little grain ; wild cherries, elder 

 berries, and other wild fruit. The above list shows the bird 

 to be decidedly useful, and it should be rigorously protected. 

 Much of its insect food is gathered in brush along fences, 

 the favorite hibernating place for injurious insects. 



6. Time of fall migration. 



9. The Baltimore Oriole. 



Material and previous observations as suggested under catbird and 

 brown thrasher. 



OUTLINE 



1. Description. Considerably smaller than the robin. 

 Male : Head, throat, upper half of back, and wings, black. 

 Below, bright orange ; also orange spots on wings and tail. 

 Female : Dark olive above, dull orange below. 



Observations. Wild mustard, pigeon grass, yellow foxtail grass, wild 

 oats, common milkweed. 



