A Wayside Thrasher 



247 



a motor could whir past with wheels only two feet away, obscuring her en- 

 tirely in yellow dust, but not causing her to stir. 



The parents showed how active Thrashers can be in destroying insects. 

 With only one youngster to feed, the mate was constantly dodging about the 

 roadside weeds, chasing jumping insects of various kinds that can usually 

 succeed in eluding a chicken, but were no match for his quick turns. The long, 

 strong tail comes in well as a balancer, and allows of astounding agiUty in the 

 bird's movements. It was also noticeable that, when either bird darted to a 

 tree, its momentum could be checked suddenly by lowering the tail and throw- 



A WAYSIDE THRASHER 



ing up the wings. Once in a bush or tree, they were even more at home than 

 the Cuckoo. 



On July eleventh the road seemed unusually peaceful. Two Fhckers were 

 dusting themselves serenely, but there was no anxious calling or tuneful whistle 

 from the Thrashers. They had entirely vanished. Under the briar, in the neat 

 nest, lay the one indomitable egg; but already a brown spider was shrouding 

 it with a web, a big blackish affair, a lit covering perhaps. The dust gave Httle 

 trace of the birds. There were tracks of several kinds, but no Hawk or Crow 

 marks. Only the print of a cat's stealthy paw on the far side of the road gave 

 me an instant's qualm; but I think that the little Thrasher, more wise than his 

 parents, had sought safer ground just as soon as his legs felt strong. 



