28 THE BIRDS ABOUT Us. 



bird, who year after year continue to frequent and build in the same 

 cave, box, or hole in the decayed orchard tree." 



While I cannot see that the facts offered in the 

 conclusion of the lines quoted are necessary evidence 

 of Nuttall's inference, I bring without hesitation my 

 wood-thrush to notice as an instance of the same 

 bird returning to the same spot, and returning mated, 

 which at least proves courtship prior to the north- 

 ward migratorial journey, or, as I believe, permanent 

 marriage. 



Another small thrush is Swainson's, or the Olive- 

 backed, and this, again, is one of those migrants that 

 favor the people of the far north only with their 

 nesting-time melodies. 



" The tone of its voice is richer and rounder more flute-like and 

 less metallic than that of any other of the small thrushes ; but the 

 song lacks that spiritual quality so conspicuous in the hymn-like 

 melody of the Hermit." 



The Gray-checked Thrush is rare and local, and 

 with no marked peculiarities over its more abundant 

 brethren. 



But over all in importance, although without any 

 of the musical charm of the thrushes we have men- 

 tioned, is the ever-abundant, omnipresent Robin. 

 Everybody knows a robin at a glance. It is one 

 ornithological fact that has penetrated even our large 

 cities, and so, too, has the bird. If a tall tree happens 

 to be in a city church-yard, the robin, when flying 

 over, will spy it out, and accept it as a nesting-place. 



" The robin is distributed in the breeding season over the whole 

 United States, excepting the extreme south, and over the most of 



