THE VARIED THRUSI* 



llicrc is nil smiiul of tlic wcslcni woods more siibtlc,more mysterious, more 

 llirilliii),' witlial. tliaii this passion sung of tlic N'aricd Tlirnsli. Somljcr depths, 

 (lrippinj4 fuliajie, and the distant gnrjjhng of dark brown waters are its fitting 

 acconii)aniineiits; l»nt it serves sumeliow to call up before the mind's eye the un- 

 sealed heights and the initried deeps of experience. It is suggestive, elusive, and 

 wliiitwicaily liallliitg. .\e\er ciilc.rli'>,s. it i-; also never ])ersonal, and its weird 



extra-mundane (juality reminds 

 one of anti(|ue china reds, or re- 

 calls the sulj<lueil luridness of 

 certain ancient frescoes. More- 

 over, this bird can fling his 

 voice at you as well from the 

 tree-top as from the ground, 

 now right, now left, the while 

 he sits motionless uiH)ti a branch 

 not fifteen feet alx)ve you. 



I'antastic and varied as is 

 this single note which is the 

 Thrush's song, it may be fairly 

 re])roduced by a high-pitched 

 wiiistle combined witli a vf>cal 

 undertone. At least, this imi- 

 tation satisfies the bird, and it 

 is jKissible to engage one after 

 another of them in a sort of 

 vocal contest in which curiosity 

 and jealousy play uiu|uestionetl 

 parts. Sometimes the Thrush's 

 note is (|uite out of reach, but 

 as often it descends to low 

 pitciies. while now and tiien it 

 is tialled and the resonance 

 crowded out of it, with an in- 

 flescribable effect up<in tlie lis- 

 tener, somewhere between ad- 

 miration and disgust. At otiier 

 times a trill is introduced, 

 which can Ik- taken care of by a 

 trained palate, in adilition to the 

 vocal soimd and tlie whistle. 

 In a uniipie ilegrce tlie X'aried Thruslies are found thruout the forest 

 depliis. ('liven tall limber and plenty i<\ it. the precise altitude or location are 



\.lllnn,tl r.jrb. riiolo by 



r.i\ i:n tai.i. TiNinKK ■ 



