178 THE FEATHEKED TRIBES. 



M-ood, seeming to vie for softer notes and more exquisite responses." During the 

 nountidc heat, they are comparatively silent ; but in the morning and evening their 

 swoct song is heard, which continues long after simset ; and even in dark and gloomy 

 weather, when other birds are silent, the clear notes of the wood-thrush thrill through 

 the woods, so that it has been remarked, that the sadder the day the sweeter is its 

 song. 



The wood-thrush is of a shy and retiring disposition, and finds its favourite liaimts in 

 low, thick-shaded hollows, through which a rill may wind its coiirse, and where there may 

 be alder bushes, mantled with wild vines. Here it selects its retreat, and in the branches 

 of a laurel or alder it builds its nest, composed first of withered beech-leaves of the pre- 

 ceding j'ear, above which arc layers of knotty stalks of withered grass, mixed with 

 mud,' and smoothly plastered, and then a slight lining of fine, black, fibrous roots of 

 plants. It has been well remarked, that thus the wood-thrush, with the modesty of true 

 merit, charms you with his song, but is content, and even solicitous, to be himself 

 concealed. He delights to trace the irregular windings of the brook, where, hj the 

 luxiu'iance of foliage, the sun is completely shut out, or only plays in often interrupted 

 beams on the glittering surface of the water. He is also fond of a particular species of 

 lichen which grows in such situations, and which, towards the autumn, have been uni- 

 formly foimd in the stomach : berries, however, of various kinds, are his principal 

 food, as well as beetles and caterpillars. 



The wood-thrush performs its migrations during the day, when it glides s^nftly 

 through the woods without apiJearing in the open country ; and on alighting upon a 

 branch it gives its tail a few jerks, uttering at each motion a low chuckling note, peculiar 

 to itself ; it then stands still for a while. It waUis along the branches with much ease, 

 and bends down its head to peep at the objects around. 



There are upwards of twenty other American birds which Wilson describes very 

 graphically, such as the brown thrush (7". riifiis), M'hose song is emphatic, full of 

 variety, and so loud that, 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 ; and the migratory thrush (T. mir/raforiits), who is an early songster, frequently 

 commencing before the snow has disappeared, and perching on a stake or fence to begin 

 the prelude to the general concert. 



Those who have paid much attention to the songs of birds, have found that there is so 

 wide a distinction between the voices and style of individuals of the same species, that 

 these may be as distinctly recognised as the voice of one man may be known from that 

 of another. Thus AYilson mentions that he was enabled to discriminate the voice of one 

 wood-thrush from that of others, and that he became gradually and perfectly familiar 

 •with its peculiarities. The top of a large white oak, that overhung that part of the glen, 

 was usually the favourite pinnacle from whence he poured the sweetest melody, and to 

 this he has frequently listened (HI niglit began to gather in the woods, and the fire- 

 flies to sparkle among the branches. But, alas I as the poet says, — 



" One mom I missed liim on tlic accustomed hill, 

 Alonf^ the vale, and on his favourite tree — 

 Another came, nor yet beside tlic rill, 

 Nor up the glen, nor in the wood was he ;" 



and a few days afterwards the fragments of the wings and broken feathers of a wood- 

 thrush among the rocks, which had been killed by a hawk, and which the naturalist 

 contemplated with unfeigned regret, assured him that tlnw ]\c had lost his favourite by a 

 violent death. 



