10 XORTII AMERICLX BIRDS. 



Habits. Tliis species is one of tlie eommon liinls of Xew Enfjland, {ind is 

 probiil)ly al)uiuljuit in certain localities tlironghout all the couni.y east of the 

 Iiocky Mountains, as far to the north as the oOth parallel, and possibly 

 as far as the wooded country extends. Mr. M.aynard did not meet with 

 it in Xorthern New Hampshire. Mr. Wni. G. Winton obtained its nest 

 and eggs at Halifax, X. S. ; ^Ir. Boardman found them also on the (Julf 

 of St. Lawrence, and at St. Steplien's, N. B. ; Mr. Couper at Quebec ; ^Ir. 

 Krieghoff at Tliree llivers, Canada ; Donald Gunn at Selkirk and Ited 

 liiver ; and ^Ir. Kumlien and Dr. Hoy in Wisconsin. Mr. Mcllwraith 

 also gives it as connnon at Hamilton, West Canada. It breeds as far south 

 as Pennsylvania, and as far to the west as Utah, and occurs, in tlie breeding 

 season, throughout Maine, New Brunswick, Xova Scotia, and Canada. 



Mr. Ilidgway found tliis thrush very abundant among the thickets in the 

 valleys of the Provo, Wel)er, and Bear rivei's, in Utah, and very character- 

 istic of those portions o*' the country. 



It arrives in Massachusetts early in May, usually with the first blossoms 

 of the |)ear, ranging from the "jtli to the 2(lth. It is strictly of woodland 

 habits, found almost entirely among clumps of trees, and obtaining its food 

 from among their branches, or on the ground among the faUen leaves. It 

 moves south from the lOth to the 2r)th of September, rarely remaining till 

 the first week in October. 



It is timid, distrustful, and retiring ; delighting in shady ravines, the edges 

 of thick close wooils, and occasionally the more retired parts of gardens; 

 where, if mmiolested, it will frequent the same locality year after year. 



The song of this tlirush is ipiaint, but not unmusical ; variable in its 

 character, changing from a ])rolonged and monotonous whistle to (piick 

 and almost shrill notes at the close. Their melody is not unfrequently 

 prolonged until <piite late in the evening, and, in consecpience, in some 

 portions of Massachusetts these birds are distinguished with the name of 

 Nightingale, — a distinction due mther to the season than to the high quality 

 of their song. Yet Mr. Ilidgway regards it, as heard by himself in Utah, 

 as superior in some respects to that of all others of the genus, though far 

 surpassed in mellow richness of voice and depth of metallic tone by that of 

 the Wood Thrush {T. musfrlimts). To his ear there was a solemn harmony 

 and a lieautiful expression which combined to make the song of this surpass 

 that of fill the other American Wood Thrushes. The beauty of their notes 

 ai)i)earcd in his ears " really inspiring ; tlieir song consisting of an inex- 

 pressibly delicate metallic uttemnce of the syllables ta-iceei ah, ta-iced' ah, 

 tu'il' ah, twil' ah, acconqianied by a fine trill which renders it truly se- 

 ductive." The last two notes are said to be uttered in a soft and subdued 

 undertone, producing thereby, in effect, an echo of the others. 



The ne.st is always placed near the ground, generally raised from it by 

 a thick bed of drv leaves or sticks ; sometimes amouix bushes, but never in 

 the fork of a ])ush or tree, or if .so, in very rare and exceptionol cases. 



