62 Land Birds of New England 



17. BROWN THRASHER; THRASHER 

 BROWN THRUSH 



(Harporhynch us rufus . ) 



Upper parts rich rust-brown ; wing with two white bars ; under 

 parts yellowish white, marked, except on the throat, with large, 

 well-defined dark brown spots. Beak large, dark, lower man- 

 dible with a yellow base ; feet pale ; tail very long. Bird about 

 the size of a robin, though the extraordinarily long tail would 

 make it measure more. Sexes similar. 



THIS large and well-known songster comes to us 

 about the first of May, and remains until mid- 

 October. On his first arrival he may be found 

 on cultivated estates ; but he soon withdraws to 

 the rough slopes clothed with small second-growth, 

 which form his favorite dwelling-places. He may 

 be recognized at a considerable distance, from his 

 habit of flirting his tail while perched, much after 

 the fashion of Jhe catbird. And if one gets a nearer 

 view, he may be distinguished from all other thrush- 

 like birds by the two white wing-bars and the extra- 

 ordinarily long tail. Unlike many birds, when the 

 brown thrush arrives he is already mated ; he trav- 

 els with his spouse, but cares nothing for other 

 company. 



The nest is placed on or near the ground in a 

 retired thicket or swamp. There are two sets of 

 eggs ; the first ones are laid usually about the end 



