GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH. 239 



facing the south. This is formed of leaves and dry grass, and 

 lined with hair. Though sunk below the surface, it is arched 

 over, and only a small hole left for entrance : the eggs are 

 four, sometimes five, white, irregularly spotted with reddish 

 brown, chiefly near the great end. When alarmed, it escapes 

 from the nest with great silence and rapidity, running along 

 the ground like a mouse, as if afraid to tread too heavily on 

 the leaves ; if you stop to examine its nest, it also stops, 

 droops its wings, flutters, and tumbles along, as if hardly able 

 to crawl, looking back now and then to see whether you are 

 taking notice of it. If you slowly follow, it leads you fifty or 

 sixty yards off, in a direct line from its nest, seeming at every 

 advance to be gaining fresh strength ; and when it thinks it 

 has decoyed you to a sufficient distance, it suddenly wheels 

 off and disappears. This kind of deception is practised by 

 many other species of birds that build on the ground ; and 

 is sometimes so adroitly performed, as actually to have the 

 desired effect of securing the safety of its nest and young. 



This is one of those birds frequently selected by the cow- 

 pen bunting to be the foster parent of its young. Into the 

 nest of this bird the cow bird deposits its egg, and leaves 

 the result to the mercy and management of the thrush, who 

 generally performs the part of a faithful and affectionate 

 nurse to the foundling. 



The golden-crowned thrush is six inches long, and nine 

 in extent ; the whole upper parts, except the crown and hind 

 head, are a rich yellow olive ; the tips of the wings, and inner 

 vanes of the quills, are dusky brown ; from the nostrils, a 

 black strip passes to the hind head on each side, between 

 which lies a bed of brownish orange ; the sides of the neck are 

 whitish ; the whole lower parts, white, except the breast, 

 which is handsomely marked with pointed spots of black, or 

 deep brown, as in the figure ; round the eye is a narrow 

 ring of yellowish white ; legs, pale flesh colour ; bill, dusky 

 above, whitish below. The female has the orange on the 

 crown considerably paler. 



