WILSON'S THRUSH. 681 



like position for a few moments, will walk (slowly along the limb o.i wliic^h it i.s perched, 

 uttering a low whistle, but always attentively examining the object of its dread. Tiien, 

 if a single step is made towai-ds it, the thrush is off like a flash, as if just aware that it is 

 discovered. Althon_i;'i it u^ii illy flies very rapidly, it slackens its speed when crossing an 

 open field and moves with a steady flight. 



Before the season of incubation, the male is constant in his attentions to the female. 

 In this he rescml)les the ILn-mit ; like thit species he may be seen pursuing her through 

 the wouils, and while she is setting he is never far away. They generally build their nests 

 dni-ing the last week in May ; nearly always in the thick woods. It is usually placed 

 upon the ground by the side of a prostrate tree or log, or else at the foot of a clump of 

 bushes. The situation chosen is almost always upon a sloping hillside, near a swamp, 

 where the trees grow thick and the shade is den.se. But a short time since, however, 

 ( June 21, 1870 ) I was surprised by seeing a nest built on an apple tree in the orchard of 

 the well known apiarist, Mr. H. Alley at Wenham. The nest was placed on the tops of 

 some twigs and limbs after the manner of the Cuckoos, and at a height of ten feet from the 

 ground. It was constructed of much the same material as usual, and contained four egtrs 

 iji an advanced stage of incubation. This is the first, out of many instances, where I 

 have found tlie nest of this bird in any other situation than on the ground. As it feeds 

 principally upon insects, it may be possible that the large number of bees kept in the 

 orchard, attracted the birds to the spot, and, as there was no locality near, where the^' 

 could place their nest upon the ground and remain undisturbed, they chose this singular 

 situation. 



Like the other smnll thrushes, already described, it is very timid, and seldom attempts 

 to drive the spoiler from its nest; indeed, it usually conceals itself at such times. On 

 June 20th of the present season, I found a nest in a small, thickly wooded island on 

 the salt marsh, which contained newly hatched young. The female was setting at the 

 time, but she instantly darted away into the thicket. I went in search of the bird, but 

 only succeeded in catching a glimp.se of her as slie was tlitting through the bushes more 

 than a hundred yurds from the nest. She made very little noise, only occasionally giving 

 a low whistle. The male did not make his appearance. 



In the latter part of July, this species moults, and for this purpo.se retires to the alder 

 swamps, which border streams and other bodies of fresh water. The male never sings 

 then, and they seem to have deserted the woods, so completely do they remain concealed. 

 They do not begin to migrate south until the latter part of September, after which but few 

 are to be found. As the voice of the Tawny Thrush is only heard in early summer, this 

 singular, half mysterious song becomes inseparably connected with the dark green foliage, 

 seen in the softened light of the deep, deciduous woods, and with the pecidiar odors which 

 greet the senses in these pleasant retreats, when the breezes murmur through the tree tops 

 and one feels a delicious quietude onl}' experienced on those bright days which appear 

 perfect only in New England. 



I give this species as a bird of Florida cm the authority of Mr. Roardman, who took 

 two specimens at Green Cove Springs on February 20th and 22d. 



