Thrushes SONG-BIRDS. 



seolian harp strung in the trees. "Uoli," he begins, and 

 after pausing continues, "Aeolee-lee" (the last syllable 

 having the harp quality), "Uoli-uoli — aeolee-lee." First 

 softly, then modulating, reiterating sometimes for an hour 

 together ; but compassing in these few syllables the whole 

 range of pure emotion. 



The Wood Thrush is called shy by many writers, but 

 here in Connecticut it is both abundant and sociable, feed- 

 ing about the lawn in company with Eobins, though it keeps 

 more in shelter, skirting the shrubbery, as it scratches. 

 Two pairs nested last season in the spruces below the 

 lawn. Their nests so closely resemble the best efforts of 

 the Robin, and the eggs being of a like colour, that I had 

 mistaken them until I saw the Thrushes in possession. 

 These nests were made wholly of sticks, and lined thinly 

 with clay, but two others that I found in the woods showed 

 more varied materials. One was placed, some six feet from 

 the ground, in a cedar bush close to a pool. The mud used 

 to line the nest was full of Sphagnum, and of the water- 

 soaked seed vessels of the sweet-pepper bush, which, min- 

 gled with dry beech leaves, made the nest very picturesque, 

 while the mud was barely visible through the bedding of 

 the runners of Potentilla, to whose stems some identifying 

 leaves still clung. 



The second nest was in a laurel bush on the top of high 

 rocks in Samp-Mortar woods. It was beautifully stuccoed 

 with lichens and lined with the hair-like roots that cover 

 the surface of leaf mould. 



The Wood Thrush builds the middle or last of May, and 

 as it comes often the very first day of the month and con- 

 tinues singing well into July, it gives us a goodly season of 

 song. Wood Eobin is one of its local names, but this is 

 used, somewhat at random, for other Thrushes. 



Wilson's Thrush ; Veery : Turdus fuscescens, 



, ►, « .^ . , Frontispiece. 



Length: 7-7.50 inches. 



Male and Female : No eye ring. Above evenly olive-brown, with a 



tawny cast. Throat buff, flecked on the sides with fine arrow- 



68 



