THE THRUSH 119 



thrush (a bird of high-class type) feeding on 

 a lawn. Though its movements are in every 

 way graceful, it advances by " fits and starts." 

 Moving swiftly over the grass surface, it stops 

 suddenly but without loss of equilibrium. 

 With head turned sHghtly on one side, and 

 with a pair of unblinking eyes, the bird presents 

 a charming appearance of unconscious grace. 

 In this posture it remains for a moment abso- 

 lutely motionless ; but though so still, the 

 creature is instinct with life and intent on 

 business. Again, we see it glide (so quick in 

 the hopping action) over the lawn for a few 

 feet in another direction, halt abruptly as 

 before, and pause in the same rigid attitude. 

 Then, quicker than thought, it has hold of a 

 worm ; a few dexterous tugs and the worm is 

 drawn from its hole and lies wriggling on the 

 grass, whilst the thrush eyes it with motionless 

 complacency, knowing, subconsciously, that 

 once out of the ground it cannot escape. In 

 another moment the worm has been gulped 

 down, or, in the case of a nursery, doubled up 

 and retained between the mandibles in con- 

 venient form. After a supply has thus been 

 collected the thrush, without a moment's 

 warning, rapidly wings its way over the lawn 

 and is soon lost to sight amongst the bushes. 

 Such is the behaviour of every thrush on 



