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 alow, 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 (T. rufus), 

 whose song is emphatic, full of variety, and so loud 



* Amer. Ornith., i., 33. 

 R2 



