A Thrashing by Thrashers 



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brave defender to make the next move. Though it was mid-afternoon and the June 

 sun was quite hot, and in a very short time the young, now about old enough to 

 leave the nest, began to grow resdess. The devoted father noticed this, and 

 came at once to their relief. Running out from this shelter, he took his stand 

 over them, spreading out wings and tail so as to make a perfect canopy to shield 

 them from the sun. How impressive he looked as he bravely did his duty,:,with 

 an air of being fearless and resigned to whatever might befall, if only he might 

 protect his helpless litde ones! The female was back in the thicket, exhorting 



BROWN THRASHER AND YOUNG 



him, I took it, to be brave, — though she took good care not to expose herself 

 to danger. 



With the reflecting camera, I then advanced, and, presenting the instrument 

 as near to him as I cared to, made a couple of exposures. Then I wanted a differ- 

 ent pose of the brave bird, so I extended my foot toward him. Instantly he 

 pounced at my leg, struck it a quick, angry blow, and hastened back to the young, 

 this time sitting on the nest as though incubating. After getting his picture in this 

 position, I decoyed him off again and again. After each attack he would generally 

 go off into the thicket, whence in a short time he would return to the nest and there 

 assume some new and striking pose. One such was when he stood over the young 

 and some of them poked out their heads through the feathers of his wing to see 

 for themselves what was going on. Sometimes, when I made only a slight feint. 



