20 N^ORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Habits. This specie.s is one of the conimou hirds of New England, and is 

 probably abundant in certain localities throughout all the country east of the 

 Rocky Mountains, as far to tlie north as the 50th parallel, and possibly 

 as far as the wooded country extends. INIr. Maynard did not meet with 

 it in Xorthem New Hampshire. ilr. Wm. G. "Winton obtained its nest 

 and egss at Halifax, N. S. ; Mr. Boardman found tliem also on the (!ulf 

 of St. Lawrence, and at St. Steplien's, N. B. ; ilr. Couper at Quebec ; Mr. 

 Krieglioff at Three Eivers, Canada ; Donald Guun at Selkirk and Red 

 River; and Mr. Kumlieu and Dr. Hoy in Wisconsin. Mr. Mcllwraitli 

 also gives it as common at Hamilton, "West Canada. It breeds as far south 

 as Pennsylvania, and as far to the west as Utah, and occurs, in the breeding 

 season, throughout Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada. 



Mr. Ridgway found this thrush very abundant among the thickets in the 

 ^•aUeys of the Provo, Weber, and Bear rivers, in Utah, and very character- 

 istic of those portions of the country. 



It arrives in Massachusetts early in May, usually with the first blossoms 

 of the pear, ranging from the 5th to the 20th. It is strictly of woodland 

 habits, found almo.st entirely among clumps of trees, and obtaining its food 

 from among their branches, or on the ground among the fallen leaves. It 

 moves south from the lOtli to the 25th of September, rarely remaining till 

 the first week in October. 



It is timid, distrustful, and retiring ; delighting in sliady ravine.s, the edges 

 of thick close woods, and occasionally the more retired parts of gardens; 

 M'liere, if unmolested, it will freipient the same locality year after year. 



The song of tins tlirush is (piaint, but not unmusical ; variable in its 

 character, changing from a prolonged and monotonous whistle to quick 

 and almost slirill notes at the close. Tlieir melody is not unfrequently 

 prolonged until quite late in the evening, and, in consequence, in some 

 portions of Massachusetts these birds are distinguished with the name of 

 Nightingale, — a distinction due rather to the sea.son than to the higli quality 

 of their song. Yet Mr. Ridgway regards it, as heard by himself in Utah, 

 as superior in some respects to that of all others of the genus, though far 

 surpassed in mellow richness of voice and dei)th of metallic tone by that of 

 the Wood Thrusli {T. mv-stdimts). To his ear there was a solemn harmony 

 and a beautiful expression which combined to make the song of this surpass 

 that of all the other American Wood Tln-ushes. The lieauty of their notes 

 appeared in his ears " really inspiring ; tlieir song consisting of an inex- 

 pressibly delicate metallic utterance of the syllables ta-weel' ah, fii-ired' ah, 

 fwW ah, tivW ah, accompanied by a fine trill which renders it truly se- 

 ductive." The last two notes are said to be uttered in a soft and subdued 

 undertone, producing thereby, in effect, an echo of the others. 



Tlie nest is always placed near the ground, generally raised from it by 

 a thick bed of dry leaves or sticks ; sometimes among bushes, but never in 

 tlie fork of a bush or tree, or if so, in very rare and exceptional cases. 



