BROWN THRASHER 121 



recognizes the thrush as a true poet of inspira- 

 tion from the length of his singing period, ex- 

 tending from shortly after his arrival about 

 April 1st to 10th, to the first hot days of August. 

 Says the philosopher, "Any man can write 

 verses in the love season." 



Another thrush with a miracle in its throat 

 is the Veery, smaller and shyer than the Wood 

 Thrush and less vividly colored. Shadowlike it 

 slips through low, dense woodlands, and its song 

 is a wild hymn of shadow, echoing the mystery 

 and magic of the woods. The Olive-backed 

 Thrush is also found here. 



The Thrush's nest is much like the Robin's, 

 having an inner wall of mud lined with black 

 rootlets. It is set in a sapling crotch or saddled 

 on a bough. The four or five eggs are blue. 



BROWN THRASHER 



Late in April or about the first of May, as 

 you pass a brush-pile, a tangle of honeysuckles 

 or roses, a brier patch, or even a clump of weeds 

 and grass on the ground, look close for the star- 

 ing yellow eye, like a chicken's, of a mother 

 Thrasher on her big brushy nest of sticks. But 

 do not disturb her; for this is one of our spe- 

 cially valued birds, and it would be a great pity 

 if any one of those cinnamon-sprinkled grayish 

 eggs were to miss its chance of hatching. 



