WOOD THRUSH. 29 



passage than is generally imagined. Early in April the woods are often 

 in considerable forwardness, and scarce a summer bird to be seen. On 

 the other hand vegetation is sometimes no farther advanced on the 20th of 

 April, at which time {e. g. this present year 1807) numbers of Wood 

 Thrushes are seen flitting through the moist woody hollows, and a 

 variety of the Motacilla genus chattering from almost every bush, with 

 scarce an expanded leaf to conceal them. But at whatever time the 

 Wood Thrush may arrive, he soon announces his presence in the woods. 

 With the dawn of the succeeding morning, mounting to the top of some 

 tall tree that rises from a low thick-shaded part of the woods, he pipes 

 his few but clear and musical notes in a kind of ecstasy ; the prelude, 

 or symphony to which, strongly resembles the double tongueing of a 

 German flute, and sometimes the tinkling of a small bell ; the whole 

 song consists of five or six parts, the last note of each of which is in 

 such a tone as to leave the conclusion evidently suspended ; the finale 

 is finely managed, and with such charming efi'ect as to soothe and tran- 

 quillize the mind, and to seem sweeter and mellower at each successive 

 repetition. Rival songsters, of the same species, challenge each other 

 from diff'erent parts of the wood, seeming to vie for softer tones and 

 more exquisite responses. During the burning heat of the day, they 

 are comparatively mute ; but in the evening the same melody is renewed, 

 and continued long after sunset. Those who visit our woods, or ride 

 out into the country at these hours, during the months of May and June, 

 will be at no loss to recognise, from -the above description, this pleasing 

 musician. Even in dark, wet and gloomy weather, when scarce a single 

 chirp is heard from any other bird, the clear notes of the Wood Thrush 

 thrill through the dropping woods from morning to night ; and it may 

 truly be said that, the sadder the day the sweeter is his song. 



The favorite haunts of the Wood Thrush are low, thick-shaded hol- 

 lows, through which a small brook or rill meanders, overhung with alder 

 bushes that are mantled with wild vines. Near such a scene he gene- 

 rally builds his nest, in a laurel or alder bush. Outwardly it is composed 

 of withered beech leaves of the preceding year, laid at bottom in con- 

 siderable quantities, no doubt to prevent damp and moisture from 

 ascending through, being generally built in low wet situations ; above 

 these are layers of knotty stalks of withered grass, mixed with mud, 

 and smoothly plastered, above which is laid a slight lining of fine black 

 fibrous roots of plants. The eggs are four, sometimes five, of a uniform 

 light blue, without any spots. 



The Wood Thrush appears always singly or in pairs, and is of a shy 

 retired unobtrusive disposition. With the modesty of true merit he 

 charms you with his song, but is content and even solicitous to be con- 

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

 by the luxuriance of foliage the sun is completely shut out, or only 



