"That's a sure sign his nest is not very near," said Rap; "for they never sing close by their nests." This Thrasher was clinging to the end of a slender branch, one claw above the other, so that his head, which was thrown back, looked straight up to the sky. He seemed to be half talking and half singing, as if giving directions to some unseen performer, then following these by two or three clear notes.
"What is he saying?" said Dodo.
"He is telling you who he is, and what he sees from the tree-top," said the Doctor. "Olive, dear, I am going to repeat to the children the jingle you made about the Thrasher." Though Olive then blushed and said it was only nonsense, the children were delighted with it.
"My creamy breast is speckled
(Perhaps you'd call it freckled)
Black and brown.
"My pliant russet tail
Beats like a frantic flail,
Up and down.
"In the top branch of a tree
You may chance to glance at me,
When I sing.
"But I'm very, very shy,
When I silently float by,
On the wing.
"Whew there! Hi there! Such a clatter!
What's the matter—what's the matter?
Really, really?
"Digging, delving, raking, sowing,
Corn is sprouting, corn is growing!
Plant it, plant it!
Gather it, gather it!
Thresh it, thresh it!
Hide it, hide it, do!
(I see it—and you.)
Oh!—I'm that famous scratcher,
H-a-r-p-o-r-h-y-n-c-h-u-s r-u-f-u-s—Thrasher—
Cloaked in brown."
The Brown Thrasher
Length eleven inches.
Above bright reddish-brown, with two light bands on each wing.
Beneath yellowish-white, spotted with very dark brown on the breast and the sides.