VEERY. 183 



brifjhtcr plnman^e, more strikinp^ voices, and more inter- 

 esting liahits, l)ut there are none whose bearing is more dis- 

 tinguislied, whose songs are more spiritual. The brilUant 

 IIummingV)irds and Tanagers excite our admiration, l)ut 

 the gentle, retiring Thruslies appeal to our higher emo- 

 tions ; their music gives voice to our noblest aspirations. 



Five of the true Thrushes of the genus Turdus are 

 found in eastern North America. Three of them may 

 be mentioned here — the Veery, Wood Thrush, and Her- 

 mit Thrush — a peerless trio of songsters. The Yeery's 

 mysterious voice vibrates through the air in pulsating 

 circles of song, like the strains of an ^olian harp. The 

 Wood Thrush's notes are rinorino^ and bell-like; he sounds 

 the matin and vesper chimes of day, while the Hermit's 

 hymn echoes through the woods like the swelling tones 

 of an organ in some vast cathedral. 



But it is impossible to so describe these songs that 

 their charm will be understood. Fortunately, all three 

 birds are abundant, and a brief account of their haunts 

 and habits will enable any one to find them. 



The Yeery, or Wilson's Thrush, winters in Central 

 America, and nests from northern Illinois and northern 

 ygg_ Kew Jersey northward to Manitoba and 



Turdus fuMceAcens. Newfoundland and southward along the 

 Plate LXXiii. Alleghanies to North Carolina. It comes 

 to us in the spring, about May 1, and remains until Sep- 

 tember 15. Near the middle of Mav it beo:ins to build its 

 nest, placing it on or near the ground. Its eggs are 

 greenish blue, and resemble in color those of the Wood 

 Thrush, but are slightly smaller. 



The Yeery's favorite haunts are low, damp woods 

 with an abundant undergrowth. It is a more retiring 

 bird than the Wcjod Thrush, and is rarely seen far from 

 tracts of woodland. It is to be distinguished from our 

 other Thrushes by the uniform cinnamon color of its 



