ng a few steps, stopping short and turning
half round, ready for instant flight, flirting his feathers with a
great rustle, turning an anxious eye on me, then on the wriggling
attraction, running a step or two, and repeating the performance. In
this way he advanced very gradually till near enough to half encircle
his prey; or to run and hop sideways as though to describe a circle,
turning away at each pause as before, all the time jerking and
fluttering in intense agitation, and always keeping an eye on me. Not
that he was in the least afraid of me; it was simply his sensational way
of doing everything. When he finally came within reach of the worm, he
snatched it, and ran as though the enemy were upon him.

His performances before entering the bath were even more amusing. The
bathing-dish, a broad, deep plate, stood upon a towel on a table. The
bird alighted on the table, and began first to peck the towel, pulling
the fringe, working at any loose thread he discovered, and industriously
enlarging any small hole he chanced to find. In doing thus he often
turned over the edge, when he sprang back as though he had seen a ghost.
Recovering from the shock, he circled around the dish with little hops,
occasionally giving a gentle peck at the edge of the dish, or a snip at
the water with his beak. Thus he waltzed around the bath perhaps forty
times, now and then going so far as to jump up on the edge, make a dash
at the water, and back off as if it were hot, or to give a hop into the
middle of the water and out again so quickly that one could hardly
believe he touched it. When, after all this ceremony, he did go in to
stay, he made most thorough work, splashing in a frantic way, as though
he had but a moment to stay, and in one minute getting more soaked than
many birds ever do. After this short dip he dashed out, flew to a perch,
and in the maddest way jerked and shook himself dry; pulling his
feathers through his beak with a snap, and making a peculiar sound which
I can liken only to the rubbing of machinery that needs oil.

The brown thrush was never so violent and eccentric in movement as just
after his bath. Allowing himself often but a moment's hasty shake of
plumage, he darted furiously across the room, startling every bird, and
alighting no one could guess where. Then, after more jerks and rapid
shakings, he flung himself as unexpectedly in another direction, while
at every fresh turn birds scattered wildly, everywhere