24 THE BIRDS ABOUT Us. 



series, because the highest, and first in ours, because 

 the most interesting, is that of Passeres, the Perch- 

 ing Birds ; and the leaders of this goodly company 

 are the well-known and well-loved thrushes. How- 

 ever delighted we may have been with the songs of 

 our resident birds, which in April have so much mean- 

 ing, for the nesting-time draws near, the trill of the 

 song-sparrow, the warble of the bluebird, and the wild 

 whistle of the cardinal, we are apt to forget them 

 all when for the first time, through some lone path- 



Wood-thrush. 



way in the forest, floats the matchless melody of the 

 Wood-thrush. There may be sweeter sounds the 

 wide world over, but he is blessed that has heard this 

 one. That this thrush is a bird of the evening, too, 

 adds to the charm, for the song fittingly blends with 

 the fading light ; is meditative and vespertine rather 

 than matutinal and rejoicing. But the wood-thrush 

 sings at other times. Indeed, it seems to do little 

 else than sing, when the matter of nesting is so far 

 advanced as the completion of the structure, a large 



