SONGS. 301 



In speaking of the wood-thrush (Turdus melodus) 

 of America, Wilson indignantly repels the assertions 

 of Buffon, who represents this bird as destitute of 

 any note but a single scream, and hence draws an 

 argument for his absurd theory of its being the 

 song-thrush of Europe, degenerated by food and 

 climate, so that its cry is now harsh and unpleasant, 

 as are, he says, the cries of all birds that live in 

 wild countries, inhabited by savages. Wilson's de- 

 scription of the song of this bird is well worth giving. 

 " This sweet and solitary songster," he says, " inhabits 

 the whole of North America, from Hudson's Bay to 

 the Peninsula of Florida. He arrives in Pennsylvania 

 about the 20th of April, or soon after, and returns to 

 the South about the beginning of October. But at 

 whatever time the wood-thrush may arrive, he soon 

 announces his presence in the woods. With the dawn 

 of the succeeding morning, mounting to the top of 

 some tall tree, that rises from a low thick- shaded part 

 of the woods, he pipes his few but clear and musical 

 notes in a kind of ecstacy ; the prelude or symphony 

 to which strongly resembles the double-tongueing of 

 a German flute, and sometimes the tinkling of a 

 small bell ; the whole song consists of five or six 

 parts, the last note of each of which is in such a 

 tone as to leave the conclusion evidently suspended ; 

 the finale is finely managed, and with such charming 

 effect, as to soothe and tranquillize the mind, and 

 to seem sweeter and mellower at each successive 

 repetition. Rival songsters, of the same species, 

 challenge each other from different parts of the wood, 

 seeming to vie for softer tones and more exquisite 

 responses. During the burning heat of the day they 

 are comparatively mute ; but in the evening the same 

 melody is renewed and continued long after sunset. 

 Those who visit our woods, or ride out into the 

 country at these hours, during the months of May 



3D 



