Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-05-25
Thrushes as Architects.

The male is gay. careless. happy
songster. aud seems 10 lure his mate into
the same thriftless habits. so that house
building is often postponed until within
a few hours OF actual need, when haste
and rapid work are very manifest.
All through May | noticed pair o.
brown thrushes fitting about the grove
The male was splendid performer, fairly
enhancing me with his song. Seated
upon The topmost branch OF some sway
ing tree, he seemed 10 drown all the
other choristers of the grove; in fact,
they too seemed entranced. and soon
were silent listeners. All the other fealh'
cred inhabitants oi the grove had already
commenced housekeeping, or were max
ing active preparations, while this lord oi
song seemed to have no care oil thought
! OF the future. Ii was June. The bird
was trilling his loudest note, when right
in the midst OF his song was pause. Ills
mate had stopped the grand performance.
lie flew with her to the shrubbery, where
| they fitted about from bush 10 bush few
moments, finally selecting n place for
building In a rose bush. which was sup
ported by u trells. Tho foundation oI
the nest wa. laid PATTY upon the trellis.
took garden chair. drew my hat
pretty well over my face-birds are good
observers, and we must manage with
cal or we shall alarm them-and watched
their proceedings. The female was eyi
dentlv the master workman, and kept 4
watchlul eye upon the mate, who came
every few moments with such crooked,
| branched twigs that she often con,d do
nothing with them but TO throw them
down in sptelul way; her own selec-
tons were much better, and almost in.
varaGly used. Ii she was away when
the mate arrived, he at once proceeded
10 place his crooked stick; he evidently
did not believe in wasting material in
such reckless way but this hindcred
The completion oil the domicle, lor when
the fair partner arrived she was obliged
TO lay down her stick and try 10 arrange
his in some sort OF shape; failing in
this, down it went 10 the ground. when.
turning 10 her own, il was soon arranged
to her satisfaction.
Several times the mate attempted TO
shirk, flew 10 tree. and commenced his
song. but this the energetic housewife
would not allow; shs always brought
him back aud set him 10 work even il he did
hinder more than help. Iii. i.paitler was
probably IN experienced architectress,
and the mate may have been an appren.
tice. Tor certainly some of the males OF
this species seem 10 be as good architects
as the females.
The rest was completed during the
day. and on the following morning an
egg was lett in it. The mate, now re-
lieved from work, resumed his Joyous
song. but he always ceased the moment
entered the shrub6ery. and gave a quick
note of alarm, when she would ay from
the nest; bnt in q few days she became
SO tame that she would allow me 10 cut
roses from the bush without leaving her
place. OF course great care was neces-
sary / always drew my hat down so
that che could not catch my eye. and ap-
parently paid no attention to her.
A few years ago was acquainted with
a pair Of brown thrusheS. much more
thriftless than the pairlabove mentioned,
who did not even attempt t. build a DOM
iclc in the usual way, but simply
scratched up kind of nest on the ground,
in strawberry bed, much after the iash'
ion of domestic hen, where they rsared
their young without any accident. When
nearly iull iedged they sprawled about
on the ground. all semblance OF a nest
having disappeared.
Only iew rods from this careless. i'm
provident family resided another family
of thrushes in quite an elaborately de-
signed structure. A peck measure
would hardly have contained The sticks
used in the construction of this domicie.
1t was built upon rail fence adjoining a
gate, through which cows were driver
every morning and evening to and from
pasture. Horses were also kept in this
field, so that the gate was used more or
less during the day, yet the family were
reared in perfect safety, and became quite
tame.
Were these poor. hastily constructed
domiciles the work OF inexperienced
architects, or the work Of thriftless, i'm
provident individuals? In either case il
looks as if birds were capable Of improv'
inc in architecture, or the nests OF the
same species would all be Of one pattern.
Mrs. MARY TREAT, in HarperS Ndgd
zine for June.
ErDensipe kiftdIinI.