THRUSH COUSINS 



in order to be sure that the coast was clear, down it 

 went into the midst of the thicket. 



It was evident that there was a nest somewhere near 

 that spot, so I hitched the horse, took my 4x5 camera 

 and tripod, and went to investigate. First of all I made 

 a careful inspection of the thicket into which the 

 thrasher had gone, but could see no sign of a nest. 

 Puzzled, I looked it through again, but with the same 

 result. Just as I was going off, to look further away, 

 I heard a series of sharp hissing sounds, which increased 

 in vehemence as I followed up this clue. Even then 

 it was some moments before I discovered the author, 

 not a snake, but the Brown Thrasher, sitting close on 

 a nest which was built into a cavity of the ground under 

 the bushes. There the bird remained, though I was 

 but a step away, looking up into my face and continuing 

 to hiss, braving me and daring me to touch it. 



Of course I withdrew a little and made ready the 

 camera on the tripod. But the presentation of that 

 blunderbuss was too much for the thrasher's nerves. 

 It ran off into the bushes where it was joined by its 

 mate, and both of them set up a great outcry. I could 

 now see them both at times and discovered that the 

 brighter colored one, the male, was the one which had 

 been on the nest. No wonder they were angry and 

 anxious, for they had five young ones, ragged and un- 

 couth in appearance, but lusty and promising, of quite 

 good size. 



Opening up the bushes temporarily to let in a little 



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