QUEER WAYS. 149 



this unbirdlike way against the window-shade, 

 turned and went to his cage. In like manner 

 he came in contact with a cage, the books on the 

 shelves, the back of a chair, or any piece of fur- 

 niture, taking from that point a new direction. 

 "When startled he instantly bounded into the air 

 as though the ground were hot under his feet, 

 and often turned a corner or two before he came 

 down. In the middle of his most lovely song he 

 was quite likely, without the least warning, to 

 make a mad dash somewhere, turn a sharp cor- 

 ner, dive in another direction, and alight on the 

 spot he had left a moment before, and all in 

 so spasmodic a way that every bird was panic- 

 stricken. 



The thrasher was exceedingly wary, and 

 nothing was droller than his manner of ap- 

 proaching anything, whether a worm I had 

 thrown on the matting for him, or the bathing- 

 dish. In the case of the worm, the moment he 

 saw his prey — which I selected for its liveli- 

 ness — he came to a nearer perch, and stood 

 there a few minutes, posturing, shaking his 

 plumage in great excitement, looking at me and 

 then at the tempting object. Very soon he 

 dropped to the floor and started towards the 

 worm in the funniest way ; running a few steps, 

 stopping short and turning half round, ready 

 for instant flight, flirting his feathers with a 



