HERMIT THRUSH. 185 



The song of the Wood Thrush is wholly unlike 

 that of the Yeerj. It opens with the flutelike notes, 

 and is sung disconnectedly, l)eing broken 

 by pauses and by low notes, audible only 



■--f-=--^- 



-#— h 



Come to me, when one is near the singer. 



The Hermit Thrush is a more northern bird than 



either the Yeery or the AVood Thrush. It rarely nests at 



TT •.. rri. 1. sea level south of Yermont or northern 

 Hermit Tnrasn, 



Turdus ao?iaiaschh^ Michigan, but in the higher portions of 

 paikmL Massachusetts and on the crests of the 



Catskills and Alleghanies in Pennsyl- 

 vania, it is also found breeding. It winters from south- 

 ern Illinois and JS^ew Jersey southward to the Gulf, it 

 being the only member of its genus to inhabit the east- 

 em United States at that season. Its spring migrations 

 occur between April 5 and May 10, and in the fall we 

 see it from October 15 to November 25, while occasion- 

 ally it may winter. 



During its migrations the Hermit Thrush usually fre- 

 quents woodlands, where it may often be seen on or near 

 the ground. Like the Yeery, it is a ground-nester, and 

 its eggs, though slightly lighter in color, resemble those 

 of the Yeery and Wood Thrush in being plain, bluish 

 green. When alighting, the Hermit has a characteristic 

 habit of gently raising and lowering its tail, and at the 

 same time uttering a Ioav chuck. Sometimes it sings 

 during the winter, in Florida, and also while migrating : 

 but if you would hear this inspired songster at his best, 

 you must visit him in his summer home. The Hermit's 

 song resembles that of the Wood Thrush in form, but 

 it is more tender and serene. O spheral, spheral ! O 

 holy, holy ! Mr. Burroughs writes the its opening notes, 

 and there is something about the words which seems to 

 express the spirit of heavenly peace with which the bird's 

 song is imbued. 



