A SILVER-TONGUED FAMILY 109 



" Is that Veeiy only visiting here, or will he build a 

 nest ? " asked Nat. 



" He will build ; and though he is so shy that we do 

 not see him as often as the Wood Thrush, his song makes 

 him one of the best-known of the family. He makes his 

 home from the Middle States, east and west, all over 

 the country, up to the far North ; but as insects are his 

 chief food he does not come as early or stay as late in 

 his summer home as the Hermit Thrush, and always 

 tries to reach the warmer countries before the trees are 

 wholly bare and there is danger of snow." 



"Do they live up in the trees where they sing?" 

 asked Dodo, after they had listened to the Veeries, 

 who were then singing on both sides of the river. 



"No, on the contrary, he is one of the Ground 

 Tlirushes, who builds his nest close to the ground in 

 such places as that bit of brushwood opposite ; and as 

 he spends most of his time about home we seldom see 

 him, even in places like this where many pairs live. 

 But we do not need to see a Veery to know of his 

 presence if we once learn his song by heart, because Ave 

 shall remember it as long as our hearts beat." 



The children sat silent for a long time, looking up 

 through the trees at the coming of the night. Then 

 Dodo nestled close to Olive and wdiispered, "I think 

 that Veery is singing his prayers." 



Wilson's Thrush — Veery 



Length seven and a half inches. 



Upper parts warm brown all over, not so bright as the Wood 

 Tln-nsh is on the head, and not the least bit greenish on the tail. 



Breast and throat deep cream color, finely specked with brown 

 on the upper part. 



