48 Cobb, Birds of the Catskills. [ ( N 



Auk 

 an. 



throated Blue, both very common. In the thickets along the 

 streams or near the pastures, the Chestnut-sided Warblers nested, 

 associated with the Redstarts and Maryland Yellow-throats. 

 Where tall woods bordered the Beaverkill and the rocks were 

 smooth from many freshets, the Blackburnian Warblers used to 

 amuse us by trying to catch our flies as we fished for trout. They 

 showed little fear and their flame colored throats were a constant 

 pleasure. 



Beside these abundant species there were two others of which I 

 occasionally caught glimpses: the Mourning and Canadian War- 

 blers. Both of these were rather shy and retiring, seldom singing, 

 though I once heard the Canadian's song — a loud but sweet 

 medley. 



Yet when I have not mentioned the thrushes how can I give 

 space to the many other birds which seem so typical of the Cats- 

 kills? To the Winter Wren overflowing with song among the dark 

 fallen hemlock trunks; the Black-billed Cuckoos gliding stealthily 

 through the woods; the Chimney Swifts splashing onto the smooth 

 surface of the lake at dusk ; or the Red-tailed, and Red-shouldered 

 Hawks drifting high over the mountains against the deep blue sky 

 and sunny clouds. 



And now the thrushes! During the day they seem like sedate 

 quiet birds, flying shyly about the shady woods attending to their 

 nests and young. The Wood Thrush is common on the high 

 ground in tall open forest, and the Wilson Thrush or Veery is 

 abundant in the fern floored swamps, while the Hermit prefers the 

 vicinity of brooks and ponds, sometimes singing even at noon — 

 softly, from some cool shade, as if he could not wait till evening. 



But evening near Balsam Lake is the time for thrushes. As the 

 shadows grow long and stretch down the mountain sides the 

 thrushes begin to tune up, softly at first and at intervals, but as 

 evening draws on the woods resound with most exquisite music, 

 the true music of nature; not like the pleasant jingling songs of 

 finches, or the soft trills of warblers, but strong, rich and mellow 

 notes such as are heard from the sweetest of flutes. From the 

 beech woods comes the slow chime-like song of the Wood Thrush, 

 answered by others in different keys. In the swamps the Veeries 

 join a rolling chorus, sending forth their liquid spirals of sound 



