44 Birds Every Child Should Know 
other times he may keep himself concealed 
among the shrubbery, when about to sing, he 
chooses a conspicuous perch as if to attract 
attention to his truly brilliant performance. 
The thrasher has been called a ground 
“thrush” because it so often chooses to place 
its nest at the roots of tall weeds in an open 
field ; but a low bush frequently suits it quite as 
well. Its bulky nest is not a very choice piece 
of architecture. Twigs, leaves, vine tendrils, 
and bits of bark form its walls, and the speckled, 
greenish blue eggs within are usually laid upon 
a lining of fine black rootlets. 
THE CATBIRD 
Slim, lithe, elegant, dainty, the catbird,' as 
he runs lightly over the lawn or hunts among 
the shrubbery, appears to be a fine gentleman 
among his kind — a sort of Beau Brummel in 
smooth, gray feathers who has preened and 
prinked until his toilet is quite faultless. You 
would not be surprised to hear that he slept 
on rose petals and manicured his claws. He is 
among the first to discover the bathing dish or 
drinking pan that you have set up in your 
garden, for he is not too squeamish, in spite of 
his fine appearance, to drink from his bath. 
With well-poised, black-capped head erect, and 
