135 



Fig. 116. BROWN THRASHER ON NEST. 



before the nest, ^^'hen without a camera I have, a number 

 of times, hidden beside Catbird nests and watched the 

 parents performing their various household duties. There 

 are "good" Catbirds and "bad" ones; it is just as impossible 

 to photograph one of the latter class as it is to portray a 

 naughtj' child. 



Brown Thrasher 



The Thrasher is also something of a mimic but not as ac- 

 complished a performer in that line as the Catbird. He 

 has, however, a much better and more characteristic song of 

 his own. 



Early one morning I was making my way along a side 

 hill, through sweetfern and briers and around scrub oaks 



