436 NOTES ON THE 



pen of that master of words in the expression of science or 

 sentiment, Dr. Elliott Coues in his Birds of the Colorado 

 Valley, page 41: "The heavy growth of timber that fringes 

 the streams including many nooks and dells, and broken 

 ravines overgrown with thick shrubbery from out the masses 

 of which the tall trees tower as if stretching forth their strong 

 arms in kindly caressing of the humbler and weaker vegetation, 

 their offspring. 



"In such safe retreats, where the sombre shade is brightened 

 here and there with stray beams of sunlight, in the warmth of 

 which myriads of insects bathe their wings and flutter away 

 their little span of life, humming a quaint refrain to the 

 gurgle of the rivulet, the Veery meets its mate — the scng rises 

 — the wooed is won — the home is made. Should we force our 

 unwelcome presence upon the bird who is brooding her newly- 

 found treasures with the tenderest solicitude, she will nestle 

 closer still, in hope of our passing by, till we might almost 

 touch her. when, without a word of remonstrance or reproach, 

 she takes a little flight, and settles a few yards away in silent 

 appeal. If the time, the place, the scene, suffice not for our 

 forbearance, with what poor words of hers may we then be 

 moved ?" 



Whoever would try it after seeking such a spot as the above 

 picture points out, as true to science as it is to sentiment, will 

 find the nest either resting directly upon the ground amongst 

 leaves, or a little above it. There is no remarkable exhibition 

 of skill manifested in its structure, but on the other hand, it 

 looks rather clumsy and bulky, yet it is fairly well finished 

 within. It consists outwardly of leaves, and bark, weeds and 

 grasses within, with no special lining. The cavity is slight 

 compared with the excavation of some of the other Thrushes. 

 The eggs are greenish blue without any markings usually, 

 and four to five in number. Occasionally obsolete specks may 

 be detected on the larger end. The song of this interesting 

 species is quite remarkable, the notes being metallic and bell- 

 like, very distinct and resonant. The quivering frill, frill, 

 frill, frill graduated from a high key downward, increasing in 

 volume with each frill in the four repetitions, giving it a wild 

 and delicious sadness, impossible to describe, but always felt 

 when heard. The song is not unfrequently prolonged until 

 between eleven and twelve o'clock in the evenings of warm, 

 cloudy weather. Often when delayed, I have been riding 

 through the dark woodlands bordering the lake, at that late 



