SONGS. 197 
Peninsula of Florida. He arrives in Pennsylvania 
about the 20th of April or soon after, and returns 
to the South about the beginning of October. 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 dou- 
ble-tonguing 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 effect as to sooth and tranquillize the 
mind, and to seem sweeter and mellower at each 
successive repetition. Rival songsters of the same 
species challenge each other from different 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 rec- 
ognise, 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 drooping woods from morning till night; and it 
may truly be said, that the sadder the day the sweeter 
is his song.”* 
There are upward of twenty other American 
birds which Wilson characterizes in the same graph- 
ic manner; such as the brown thrush (JT. rufus), 
whose song is emphatic, full of variety, and so loud 
* Amer. Ornith., i., 33. 
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