62 IN THE HEMLOCKS. 



attitude, and lift up his head in preparation, 

 and, as it were, clear his throat ; but sits 

 there on a log and pours out his music, look- 

 ing straight before him, or even down at 

 the ground. As a songster, he has but few 

 superiors. I do not hear him after the first 

 week in July. 



While sitting on this soft-cushioned log, 

 tasting the pungent acidulous wood-sorrel, 

 the blossoms of which, large and pink-veined, 

 rise everywhere above the moss, a rufous- 

 colored bird flies quickly past, and, alight- 

 ing on a low limb a few rods off, salutes 

 me with " Whew ! Whew ! " or " Whoit ! 

 Whoit! " almost as you would whistle for 

 your dog. I see by his impulsive, graceful 

 movements, and his dimly speckled breast, 

 that it is a thrush. Presently he utters a few 

 soft, mellow, flute-like notes, one of the most 

 simple expressions of melody to be heard, 

 and scuds away, and I see it is the veery, or 

 Wilson's thrush. He is the least of the 

 thrushes in size, being about that of the 

 common bluebird, and he may be distin- 

 guished from his relatives by the dimness of 

 the spots upon his breast. The wood-thrush 

 has very clear, distinct oval spots on a white 

 ground ; in the hermit, the spots run more 



