THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS 21 



worm-eating warbler, the fox sparrow, etc. The 

 absence of all birds of prey, and the great number of 

 flies and insects, both the result of proximity to the 

 village, are considerations which no hawk-fearing, 

 peace-loving minstrel passes over lightly; hence the 

 popularity of the resort. 



But the crowning glory of all these robins, fly- 

 catchers, and warblers is the wood thrush. More 

 abundant than all other birds, except the robin and 

 catbird, he greets you from every rock and shrub. 

 Shy and reserved when he first makes his appear- 

 ance in May, before the end of June he is tame and 

 familiar, and sings on the tree over your head, or 

 on the rock a few paces in advance. A pair even 

 built their nest and reared their brood within ten or 

 twelve feet of the piazza of a large summer-house in 

 the vicinity. But when the guests commenced to 

 arrive and the piazza to be thronged with gay 

 crowds, I noticed something like dread and forebod- 

 ing in the manner of the mother bird; and from 

 her still, quiet ways, and habit of sitting long and 

 silently within a few feet of the precious charge, it 

 seemed as if the dear creature had resolved, if pos- 

 sible, to avoid all observation. 



If we take the quality of melody as the test, the 

 wood thrush, hermit thrush, and the veery thrush 

 stand at the head of our list of songsters. 



The mockingbird undoubtedly possesses the 

 greatest range of mere talent, the most varied exec- 

 utive ability, and never fails to surprise and delight 

 one anew at each hearing; but being mostly an 



