28 Tue Brrpos AsouTt Us. 
bird, who year after year continue to frequent and build in the same 
cave, box, or hole in the decayed orchard trees 
While I cannot see that the facts offered in the 
conclusion of the lines quoted are necessary evidence 
of Nuttall’s inference, I bring without hesitation my 
wood-thrush to notice as an instance of the same 
bird returning to the same spot, and returning mated, 
which at least proves courtship prior to the north- 
ward migratorial journey, or, as I believe, permanent 
marriage. 
Another small thrush is Swainson’s, or the Olive- 
backed, and this, again, is one of those migrants that 
favor the people of the far north only with their 
nesting-time melodies. 
«The tone of its voice is richer and rounder—more flute-like and 
less metallic—than that of any other of the small thrushes; but the 
song lacks that spiritual quality so conspicuous in the hymn-like 
melody of the Hermit.’’ 
The Gray-checked Thrush is rare and local, and 
with no marked peculiarities over its more abundant 
brethren. 
But over all in importance, although without any 
of the musical charm of the thrushes we have men- 
tioned, is the ever-abundant, omnipresent Robin. 
Everybody knows a robin at a glance. It is one 
ornithological fact that has penetrated even our large 
cities, and so, too, has the bird. Ifa tall tree happens 
to be in a city church-yard, the robin, when flying 
over, will spy it out, and accept it as a nesting-place. 
“The robin is distributed in the breeding season over the whole 
United States, excepting the extreme south, and over the most of 
