30 LAND-BIRDS. 



have escaped all these ; the Woodpeckers destroy them when 

 in the larva state in the wood ; the Wrens, Nuthatches, Tit- 

 mice, and Creepers, eat the eggs and young that live on and 

 beneath the bark ; but the Thrushes subsist on those that 

 destroy the vegetation on the surface of the earth." 21 



d. The voice of the Wilson's Thrushes is not so fine as 

 that of the Wood Thrush, and, when heard from a near stand- 

 point, sounds peculiarly muffled, though, when heard at a 

 greater distance, it becomes mellow and much clearer. From 

 the first of June until the time of their departure (the first of 

 September) draws near, one may often hear in the day-time 

 the simple song of these birds, " cheeury, cheeury, cheeury," ^ 

 which they give utterance to generally from some bough in 

 the pine groves or in the other woods which they frequent. It 

 is in the summer evenings that this song is somewhat pro- 

 longed, becoming " more glorious " ; and the male, when his 

 mate is on her nest, sometimes repeats it at night, whence he 

 is among the birds upon whom the epithet " Nightingale " 

 has been bestowed. 



The ordinary note of the " Veeries " is a characteristic and 

 peculiar chirp, a liquid sound, often uttered in a seemingly 

 petulant and melancholy tone ; besides which they often give 

 utterance to chips, chicks, " lisps " like those of the Cedar-bird, 

 and a harsh " grating " sound, much like that of other birds, 

 and peculiar to the mating-season. 



The two Thrushes already described are summer residents 

 in Massachusetts. The other (typical) Thrushes, whom I am 

 about to describe, only pass through this State, spending their 

 summers in a more northern climate. 



C. AONALASCHKJE PALLAS:!. Hermit TJirush. " Swamp 

 Thrush" " Swamp Robin" Common near Boston in April 

 and October. * 



21 Many Thrushes obtain much of sists of three or four triplets on a de- 

 their food from trees ; the Swainson's scending scale, in each triplet the first 

 Thrushes most of it. Many Sparrows note being the highest. 



feed as Thrushes do. * Breeds abundantly throughout 



22 This chant, which is not unlike northern New England, the more ele- 

 some of the Wood Thrush's music, con- vated portions of central and western 



