38 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



of them revisiting the neighborhood of Boston about the first 

 of October, when the wonderful instinct of migration prompts 

 them to return to Florida or still further to the South. In a 

 certain township among the White Mountains I have studied 

 the habits of these birds, who there inhabit various kinds of 

 woodland, particularly those which 'have swamps or brooks in 

 them, but keep nearer the ground, and exhibit much less shy- 

 ness in those wild woods than they habitually do, when travel- 

 ing. 



In autumn, however, they are much less shy and active than 

 they are in spring ; and, during the fall-migrations, they may 

 be found in woods and copses. There they pick up food from 

 the ground and the lower branches of bushes or trees, since at 

 that season there are few winged insects, of a size acceptable 

 to them, to be caught in the air, and since before the severer 

 frosts of autumn have come, and before the Hermit Thrushes 

 are abundant, a large supply of food suitable to them can be 

 found among the dead leaves, many of which have then al- 

 ready fallen. 



To resume the remarks just interrupted, in the woods of 

 the White Mountains, they sing almost throughout the sum- 

 mer, and often throughout the day, for the old forests of New 

 Hampshire are always cool and shady. They more often sing, 

 however, in the early morning, or at sunset, as does the Wood 

 Thrush, and, t like that bird, they frequently perch on a high 

 and prominent bough when about to sing. They usually stay 

 on their nests rather more boldly than the Hermit Thrushes 

 are wont to do, and watch over their young, when they have 

 left the nest, with great care, showing as warm an interest in 

 their offspring, as I have ever seen displayed in birds. 



(d). The ordinary note of the Swainson's Thrushes, espec- 

 ially when in their summer-homes, is an attractive one, exactly 

 resembling the word "whit" brusquely whistled in a tolerably 

 low tone, and very quickly. Their song-notes exhibit less 

 variation than those of any of their immediate relations, being 

 all nearly on the same pitch, and reminding one forcibly of the 

 less brilliant singers among the Wood Thrushes, and bearing 



