156 USEFUL BIRDS. 



made on adult birds ; and, were the food of the nestlings 

 considered, the percentage of injurious insects eaten would 

 probably be higher. A large proportion of the fruit eaten 

 by these birds in Massachusetts consists of wild berries, 

 particularly such as are unfit for human consumption. The 

 family, therefore, as a whole is eminently beneficial. 



The Robin and Bluebird are not typical woodland birds, 

 although the Robin both breeds and feeds in the woods to a 

 considerable extent. Both birds nest in the orchard, but feed 

 generally in gardens and fields. For this reason they will 

 be considered farther on, among the birds of the field and 

 garden. The Hermit which breeds sparingly in the State 

 and the other Thrushes will be omitted. 



Wilson's Thrush. Tawny Thrush. Veery. 

 Hylocichla fuscescens. 



Length. About seven and one-half inches. 



Adult. Above, tawny brown ; no white eye ring ; below, mainly whitish ; throat 



and upper breast washed with buffy or yellowish brown, faintly marked 



with a few dark spots. 

 Nest. Usually on or quite near the ground, containing no mud or leaf mold, 



and composed of grass, dried leaves, grapevine bark, etc. 

 Eggs. Greenish-blue; smaller than those of the Robin and lighter than the 



Catbird's. 

 Season. May to September. 



This gentle bird may be recognized by its light tawny 

 upper parts and the faintness of the elongated spots on its 

 light brown-washed breast. It is a summer resident through- 

 out most of Massachusetts, but is generally confined to the 

 vicinity of swampy woods or streams, and is not found 

 ordinarily on the summits of the highest elevations. It runs 

 about much in the manner of the Robin, but rather more 

 listlessly, and often with drooping wings. Alert, but not 

 suspicious, it seems to be aware of its protective coloring, 

 which makes difficult the task of distinguishing it from the 

 leafy ground of its favorite groves. Its flight is rapid, and 

 when much alarmed it vanishes swiftly among the vistas of 

 the woods. Although it often alights on the lower branches 

 of trees, it is seldom seen among tree tops, but keeps habit- 

 ually near the ground, where it finds most of its food. The 

 song of this Thrush, one of the sweetest sounds of the wood- 



