OF NEW ENGLAND. 81 



built upon a roadside, as when in a swamp of alders. The 

 Wood Thrushes usually sing from a high branch, whereas they 

 find their food on or near the ground ; but, wherever they are, 

 they generally preserve, except when running, a rather erect 

 attitude, observable also in the Robin and the other (typical) 

 thrushes. If I have forgotten to speak of other habits, let the 

 reader go to the haunts already described, or to cool woods 

 on the banks of some rapid-running brook, and there learn 

 them. 



(d). In the cool of the morning, or at evening, from the 

 time when the sun sets until dusk becomes dark, the Wood 

 Thrush, having mounted to a perch so high that his outbursts 

 of heavenly music shall not be confined to earth -or lost in the 

 surrounding shrubbery, pours out such a melody, that he seems 

 at every utterance " to be endeavoring to recall his very soul, 

 that fled to heaven on the winged notes of his last liquid mel- 

 ody." At other times of the day, if it is cloudy, or if he is in 

 dark, cool woods, he sings while he is busied in providing for 

 himself or his family, and as he moves through the bushes. 

 This song is rarely one continuous strain, but consists of many 

 detached variations, a series of liquid, metallic, rich, powerful, 

 and expressive notes, which are so exquisite that the all-ab- 

 sorbed and unobtrusive musician seldom if ever fails to charm 

 whoever hears him. Yet, it ought to be remembered that, 

 though some Wood Thrushes can produce such music as per- 

 haps no other birds can rival, others of them are greatly infe- 

 rior to their fellows. 



The ordinary notes of the Wood Thrush are a mellow chirp, 

 more metallic and less melancholy in tone than that of the 

 Wilson's Thrush, a chuck (sometimes combined with it), and a 

 simple chip, such as belongs to a large majority of all the birds 

 described in this volume. 



All, who wish to have an insight into the charms, which 

 attend the study of animated birds, should observe the Wood 

 Thrush in his native haunts, and faithfully attend the delightful 

 concerts, which he so often repeats in the cooler hours of the 

 day, in June, July, and even August. 



