126 Mr. Peabody on the 
eat them. The food of the brown thrasher consists 
of insects, worms, berries, and fruits of all descrip- 
tions. ‘They are sometimes accused of pulling up 
the new corn, but this is so seldom done, that it is 
doubtless accidental, and the grub, instead of the 
corn, is the object which it aims to secure. 
The nest is built on the ground, or a few feet 
above it, with small twigs and dry leaves, strips of 
bark and root fibres. The eggs are of a buff color. 
thickly sprinkled with dots of brown. Both the 
male and female sit, but the time of the former is 
very much occupied in keeping guard against the 
approach of enemies, which he resists, if it is possi- 
ble, and if not, attempts to soften to compassion by 
his plaintive cries. If any one plunders the nest, 
both parents follow him with alternate imprecations 
and appeals to his feeling. After the breeding sea- 
son, they are generally silent, and are found in gar- 
dens in great numbers, where they employ them- 
selves till October, when they retreat to the southern 
states. 
The Caremo, Turdus felivor, is strangely perse- 
cuted, though he deserves good treatment on account 
of his services, which are great ; and also on account 
of his song, which is fine and sweet when he feels 
secure; but this is not often; for he seems fully 
aware that a bad name has been given him ; and his 
catlike mew is an expression of his anxious fears. 
Beside his own wild snatches of melody, he gives 
many broken imitations of other birds, but never 
seems sufliciently easy in his mind to finish the 
