228 THE TOWNSEND SOLlTAJ%E. 



"W'c followed down tlic ii\i.-r in tlit- Ijottom of the canon; all day the 

 gorge was filled with a chorus of sweet sounds from hundreds and thousands 

 of these hirds. which from their monotonous color, and their habit of sitting 

 on the branch of a tree projecting into the void aljove the stream, or hanging 

 from some iH'elling crag, and Hying out in narrow circles after insects precisely 

 in the maimer of the I'lycatchers I was disiKJsed to associate with them. 



"Two days afterward in the canon of Psuc-see-que Creek, of which the 

 terraced banks were sparsely set with low trees of the western ce<lar ( J . occi- 

 ticnlalis I. I found these birds numerous. * ♦ * With the first dawn of day 

 they began their songs, and at sunrise the valley was ])erfectly vocal with their 

 notes. Never, anywhere, have I heard a more delight fid chorus of binl music. 

 Their song is not greatly varied, but all the n<»tes are ])articularly clear and 

 sweet, and the strain r)f pure gushing melody is as spontaneous and inspiring 

 as that of tlie Song Si)arrow. .\t this time. September 30, these birds were 

 feeding on the berries of the cedar: they were very shy, and could only l)c ob- 

 tained by lying concealed in the vicinity of the trees which they frequented." 



Mr. T. M. Trii)pe. speaking for the Clear Creek Caiion in Colorado, says* : 

 "In summer and fall its voice is rarely heard : but as winter comes on. and the 

 woods are well-nigh deserted by all save a few Titmice and Nuthatches, it be- 

 gins to utter occasionally a single bell-like note that can be heard at a great dis- 

 tance. The bird is now very shy: ami the author of the clear, loud call, that I 

 heard nearly every morning from the valley of Clear Creek, was long a mys- 

 tery to me. Toward the middle and latter part of winter, as the snow Ix"gins 

 to fall, the Klycatching Thrush delights to sing, choosing for its rostrum a j)ine 

 tree in some elevated ])osition. high up above the valleys: and not all the fields 

 and gri>ves, and hills and valleys of the P'astcrn States, can iKiast a more ex- 

 quisite song: a song in which the notes of the Purjjle Finch, the \V<t<">(1 Thrush, 

 ami the Winter Wren are blended into a silvery cascade of luelody, that ripples 

 and dances down the mountain sides as clear and sparkling as the mountain 

 bpiok. filling the woods and valleys with ringing nutsic. .\t first it sings only 

 on bright clear mornings: but once fairly in the mood, it sings at all hours and 

 during the most inclement weather. Often while travelling over the narrow, 

 winding mountain roads, towanl the close of winter. I have been overtaken and 

 half-blinded by sudden, furious stomis of wind and snow, and compelled to 

 seek the nearest tree or projecting rock for shelter. In such situations I have 

 frequently listened to the song of this bird. an<l forgot the c<ilfl and wet in its 

 enjoyment. Towanl spring, as soon as the other birds begin to sing, it be- 

 comes silent as tho disilainful of joining the common chorus, and commences 

 building its nest in May. earlier than almost any other bird. During this season 

 it deserts the valleys, and confines itself to partially wooded hill-tops " 



*. Coun. Bird* of ihc Northwcuf (1874I. pp. 95. 9*. 



