44 WAKE-ROBIN 



straight toward his head. He is the least ostenta- 

 tious singer I know of. He does not strike an 

 attitude, and lift up his head in preparation, and, 

 as it were, clear his throat ; but sits there on a log 

 and pours out his music, looking straight before 

 him, or even down at the ground. As a songster, 

 he has but few superiors. I do not hear him after 

 the first week in July. 



While sitting on this soft-cushioned log, tasting 

 the pungent acidulous wood-sorrel, the blossoms of 

 which, large and pink- veined, rise everywhere above 

 the moss, a rufous-colored bird flies quickly past, 

 and, alighting on a low limb a few rods off, salutes 

 me with "Whew! Whew!" or"W^hoit! Whoit!" 

 almost as you would whistle for your dog. I see 

 by his impulsive, graceful movements, and his dimly 

 speckled breast, that it is a thrush. Presently he 

 utters a few soft, mellow, flute-like notes, one of 

 the most simple expressions of melody to be heard, 

 and scuds away, and I see it is the veery, or Wil- 

 son's thrush. He is the least of the thrushes in 

 size, being about that of the common bluebird, and 

 he may be distinguished from his relatives by the 

 dimness of the spots upon his breast. The wood 

 thrush has very clear, distinct oval spots on a white 

 ground; in the hermit, the spots run more into 

 lines, on a ground of a faint bluish white; in the 

 veery, the marks are almost obsolete, and a few rods 

 ofi" his breast presents only a dull yellowish appear- 

 ance. To get a good view of him you have only to 

 sit down in his haunts, as in such cases he seema 

 equally anxious to get a good view of you. 



