204 
THRUSHES. 
the pressing necessity of the female bird. When all 
was finished, the cock took his share in the hatching, 
and, though he did not sit so long, he was very 
attentive in feeding her when on the nest. In thir- 
teen days the young birds were out of their shells, 
which the old ones carried off. It is generally 
supposed that the usual food for nestling Thrushes 
consists of grubs and worms, quantities of which 
they may be constantly seen collecting on lawns, 
particularly after showers have moistened the earth. 
And to those who have opportunities of observing 
them, nothing can be more interesting than the way 
they, as well as Blackbirds and some other birds, 
set about it. 
Watch an old Thrush pounce down on a lawn 
moistened with dew or rain. At first he stands 
motionless, apparently thinking of nothing at all,— 
his eye vacant, or with an unmeaning gaze. Sud- 
denly he cocks his ear on one side, makes a glancing 
sort of dart with his head and neck, gives perhaps 
one or two hops, and then stops, again listening 
attentively, and his eye glistening with attention 
and animation. His beak almost touches the 
ground, — he draws back his head, as if to make a 
determined peck. Again he pauses ; listens again ; 
hops perhaps once or twice, scarcely moving his 
position, and pecks smartly on the sod ; then is once 
more motionless as a stuffed bird. But he knows 
well what he is about. For after another moment's 
pause, having ascertained that all is right, he pecks 
away with might and main, and soon draws out a 
fine worm, which his fine sense of hearing had 
informed him was not far off, and which his hops and 
