American Song Birds, 4>15 



The cuckoo itself has done more for our music than musi- 

 cians maybe willing to allow; but it is no more than justice to 

 a despised bird to say, that from it we have derived the minor 

 scale, whose origin has puzzled so many ; the cuckoo's couplet 

 being the minor third sung downwards : thus, 



•^-«^ 



Of the American song birds, the genus Turdus seems to 

 hold the chief rank, there being at least four species distin- 

 guished for their notes, among which is the Mocking-bird ; to 

 whose unrivalled music I shall presently advert, after disposing 

 of his less distinguished congeners ; none of which, be it re- 

 membered, belong to our European species. I must also 

 premise that I am indebted to Wilson, the ingenious author 

 of the American Ornithology^ for almost all the details. 



The Brown Thrush ( Turdus riifus), sometimes called the 

 Thrasher, or French Mocking-bird, is the largest of the 

 genus. His song is loud, emphatic, and full of variety ; and, 

 in a serene morning, when the wind is hushed, and before the 

 " busy hum of men " begins, his voice may be distinguished 

 at the distance of half a mile. His notes are not imitative, as 

 some have erroneously supposed, but are wholly his own, and 

 bear a very considerable resemblance to those of the European 

 song thrush (Turdus musicus). 



The Migratory, or Red-breasted, Thrush ( Turdus migrat5- 

 rius) is an early songster, frequently commencing in March, 

 before the snow has disappeared. One or two individuals 

 usually taking the lead, by leaving the flock and perching on 

 a stake or fence, to begin the prelude to the general concert. 

 His song is not a bad imitation of the notes of the preceding 

 (T. riifus) : but, though inferior to the brown thrush in execu- 

 tion, it is more simple, and what is deficient in talent is amply 

 made up in zealous enthusiasm ; so that his song is universally 

 liked ; and he is often, on that account, kept in cages. 



The Wood Thrush (Turdus mel()dus) is a sweet and soli- 

 tary songster. He chooses his station, at dawn, on the top 

 of a tall tree, that rises from a low, thick, shaded part of the 

 woods, piping his clear musical notes in a kind of ecstasy, the 

 prelude or symphony to which strongly resembles the double- 

 tonguing of a German flute, and sometimes the tinkling of a 

 small bell. The whole song consists of five or six parts, the 

 last note of each of which is in a tone that leaves the conclu- 



* New Monthly Magazine, April, 1823. 



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