84 



FERRUGINOUS THRUSH. 



birds that build near the ground, he shews great anxiety for the 

 safety of his nest and young, and often attacks the black-snake in 

 their defence ; generally too with success ; his strength being greater 

 and his bill stronger and more powerful than any other of his tribe 

 within the United States. His food consists of worms, which he 

 scratches from the ground, caterpillars, and many kinds of berries. 

 Beetles, and the whole race of coleopterous insects, wherever he 

 can meet with them, are sure to suffer. He is accused, by some 

 people, of scratching up the hills of Indian corn, in planting time ; 

 this may be partly true; but for every grain of maize he pilfers I 

 am persuaded he destroys five hundred insects ; particularly a large 

 dirty-colored grub, with a black head, which is more pernicious to 

 the corn and other grain and vegetables, than nine-tenths of the 

 whole feathered race. He is an active, vigorous bird, flies gene- 

 rally low, from one thicket to another, with his long broad tail 

 spread like a fan; is often seen about briar and bramble bushes, 

 along fences ; and has a single note or chuck, when you approach 

 his nest. In Pennsylvania they are numerous, but never fly in 

 flocks. About the middle of September, or as soon as they have 

 well recovered from moulting, in which they suffer severely, they 

 disappear for the season. In passing thro the southern parts of 

 Virginia, and south as far as Georgia, in the depth of winter, I 

 found them lingering in sheltered situations, particularly on the 

 border of swamps and rivers. On the first of March they were in 

 full song round the commons at Savannah, as if straining to out- 

 strip the Mocking-bird, that prince of feathered musicians. 



The Thrasher is a welcome visitant in spring to every lover 

 of rural scenery and rural song. In the months of April and May, 

 when our woods, hedge-rows, orchards and cherry trees are one 

 profusion of blossoms, when every object around conveys the sweet 

 sensations of joy, and heaven's abundance is as it were showering 

 around us, the grateful heart beats in unison with the varying ele- 

 vated strains of this excellent bird ; we listen to its notes with a 



