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8 



WOOD THRUSHES are the largest 

 and handsomest of the true thrushes, 

 easily distinguished from any other 

 either by plumage or by song. From 

 a musical standpoint the song of this 

 species has few. if any, competitors. 

 The clear full notes are given with an 

 undertone tliat gives the effect of a 

 stringed accompaniment. It appears to 

 be a sort of yodling tune, using all the 

 vowels, like a-e-o-lu. uoli-uoli-uoli-a-e- 

 o-lee." Reproductions of bird songs in 

 print never can give anyone an ade- 

 quate idea of even the simplest song, 

 taut after the song has once been heard, 

 tlie written version will at once recall 

 it to mind. The favorite haunts of 

 these birds are damp woodlands, along 

 brooks or in swamps; occasionally too 

 they will take up their quarters in the 

 slirubbery of estates and may be some- 

 times seen feeding on tlie lawns, but as 

 a rule I have found tliat they are glad 

 to keep a safe distance from humans. 

 Their nests, composed of leaves, grass 

 and some mud. are placed ratlier low in 

 forks of bushes or trees. 



within which to lay their very pale blue eggs and rear their 

 young. They are real sociable chaps and^ provided that 

 English Sparrows are properly suppressed, will occupy 

 bird houses or boxes in our very dooryards. 



The true Thrushes are represented by several species, 

 most conspicuous of which are the Wood, a picture of which 

 is shown here, the Hermit, the Olive-backed Thrushes and 

 the Veery. Of these, the first and last are common summer 

 residents and the Hermit breeds locally, chiefly in moun- 

 tainous regions. These four Thrushes are very easily iden- 

 tified, the Wood by the many round black spots on its 

 breast; the Hermit by its olive back, rufous tail and lightly 

 spotted breast ; the Olive-backed by its uniform olive colored 

 upper parts; and the Veery by its uniform bright rufous 

 upper parts and very faintly streaked breast. 



While the two species are sometimes seen in the same 

 locality, as a rule Wood Thrushes are birds of larger, moist 

 woods or swamps and VEERIES most often found in more 

 open woods or thickets. While the song of the Veery can- 

 not compare with those of the more gifted ^^'ood and Her- 

 mit Thrushes, it is one to readily command attention, a loud, 

 round, ringing, echoing, descending spiral, not in the least 



