( 102 ) 

 THE FERRUGINOUS THRUSH. 



TURDVS RUFUS, LiNN. 

 PLATE CXVI. Male, Female, and Nest. 



Reader, look attentively at the plate before you, and say if such a 

 scene as that which I have attempted to portray, is not calculated to ex- 

 cite the compassion of any one who is an admirer of woodland melody, or 

 who sympathizes with the courageous spirit which the male bird shews, 

 as he defends his nest, and exerts all his powers to extricate his beloved 

 mate from the coils of the vile snake which has already nearly deprived 

 her of life. Another male of the same species, answering the call of des- 

 pair from his " fellow creature," comes swiftly do^ynwards to rescue the 

 sufferers. With open bill he is already prepared to strike a vengeful blow 

 at the reptile, his bright eye glancing hatred at his foe. See a third grap- 

 pling with the snake, and with all its might tearing the skin from its body ! 

 Should this alhance of noble spirits prove victorious, will it not remind 

 you that innocence, although beset with difficulties, may, with the aid of 

 friendship, extricate herself with honour.'' 



The birds in the case represented were greatly the sufferers : their 

 nest was upset, their eggs lost, and the life of the female in imminent 

 danger. But the snake was finally conquered, and a jubilee held over its 

 carcass by a crowd of thrushes and other birds, until the woods resounded 

 with their notes of exultation. I was happy in contributing my share to 

 the general joy, for, on taking the almost expiring bird into my hand for 

 a few minutes, she recovered in some degree, and I restored her to her 

 anxious mate. 



The Brown Thrush, or Thrasher, by which names the bird is gene- 

 rally known, may be said to be a constant resident in the United States, 

 as immense numbers are found all the year round in Louisiana, the Flo- 

 ridas, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Indeed some spend the winter in Vir- 

 ginia and Maryland. During spring and summer they are met with in 

 all our Eastern States. They also enter the British provinces, and are 

 sometimes seen in Nova Scotia; but I observed none farther north. It is the 

 most numerous species found in the Union, excepting the Robin or Mi- 

 gratory Thrush. Those which breed in the Middle and Eastern Districts 



