BROWN THRASHER. , 23 



coloration of tho lark's back and wings is grayish brown with a yellow 

 tinge, and barred with black, while the breast and belly are of 

 bright yellow. The mature bird bears on its breast a crescent of 

 rich deep black, wliich is lacking in the young. Some of the tail 

 feathers are white and these are cuuspicuous when a flushed bird 

 flies from the observer. 



The song of this species is simple as a curve, but the tone is sweet 

 and the melody carries a strain that is so wild and plaintive it 

 arrests attention when a more elaborate theme would escape notice. 

 The birds sing at all hours of the day dtiring the niating and 

 breeding season, and later in the year, even in the winter, Nuttall 

 tells us, the song may be heard at intervals. 



BROWN THRASHER. 



This bird was given its uncouth name on account of its uncouth 

 habit of jerking its tail about in most ungraceful mode. As a 

 singer it has been classed among the best performers, though in 

 voice only can it be considered as superior to many species that are 

 given a lower rank. The voice is full and rich, and of wide com- 

 pass ; but the theme of the song, if such a jumble of sounds is 

 entitled to that designation, is as wildly vagrant as the whistle of 

 the wind. Indeed the wind often produces more rhythmic melody. 



I enjoy hearing the fellow sing, his voicj is so fine and he 

 has such love for it, and is so fond of hearing the tones roll out. 

 At almost any time of day, whenever the desire to be heard happens 

 to attack him, he mounts to a prominent perch, the topmost tip of 

 a tall tree suits him well, and settled there, he throws back his 

 head, droops his tail and thus posed flings to the air a torrent of 

 loud and sweet though incoherent notes. He sings as if fascinated 

 by the beauty and power of the tones, and acts as if he was in a 

 trance, as if under the spell of a magician's conjuration. After 

 a lengthy repetition the bird abruptly stops, and then as if 

 ashamed of his presumption, his vanity surfeited, he hides amid 

 the underbrush. And thus it comes about that the bird is not well 

 known, for when singing he is usually too far off to be distinguished, 



