60 THE QUEST OF A THRUSH 



olive-backed, or Swainson's, as I found out 

 later, I turned from the woods and made 

 my way back, very wet indeed, but very 

 happy ; for I had added an acquaintance to 

 my delightful list, and henceforth, whenever 

 his peculiar inspiring notes might fall upon 

 my ear, I should know him. Many evenings 

 and mornings were passed listening to his 

 song, and at last I felt familiar with every 

 loud utterance of the bird, and was content 

 to wait till some future summer for the plea- 

 sure of seeing him in his domestic relations 

 and knowing him more intimately. 



One thing more I must add to this year's 

 chronicle of the olive - backed thrush : A 

 friend who had the happiness to see a family 

 of five olive-backed younglings take flight in 

 the woods close by, brought me the nest and 

 its surroundings. It was an exquisite affair ; 

 being the whole upper part of a young 

 spruce six or seven feet high, with the little 

 homestead two feet from the top, resting on 

 three branchlets and surrounded by many 

 more. And as the leaves fell off, revealing 

 the delicately marked golden-brown twigs 

 forming a complete protection on every side, 



