HAUSMAN THE THRUSHES 231 



And on his breast a hundred spots, 

 As if he wore a veil with dots. 

 With movement quick and full of grace 

 The high bred manner of his race 

 A very prince of birds is he 

 Whose form it is a joy to see." 



— Garret Newkirk 



From the type of nest that the Wood Thrush builds it is quite 

 evident that he must be in some way akin to the Robin, so very 

 similar are the two structures. Family traits, even among 

 birds often show in the various habits of the different related 

 species. This particular abode is usually saddled on a horizontal 

 limb, not far from the ground, and is composed of twigs, grasses, 

 and bark (sometimes newspaper and cloth are used), carefully 

 cemented together with mud and lined with grass, leaves, and 

 fine rootlets. Nests are often found to which the builder has 

 attached long streamers of paper, cloth, or string which hang 

 from the outside and render the nest more conspicuous than it 

 otherwise would be. Sometimes the papery, translucent cast 

 off snake skins are also included in this outer fabric. Although 

 as we have said, the nest resembles that of the Robin, it is, as 

 a rule slightly deeper, and softer, for the Wood Thrush uses less 

 mud than does his redbreasted cousin. 



Within the nest are deposited three or four, and rarely five, 

 rich dark blue eggs, resembling the Robin's, but smaller. Far 

 away from the nest, among the echoing aisles of the wood the 

 male makes the woods ring with his varied organ like song: 

 "And music — was there ever heard 

 A sweeter song from any bird? 

 Now clarion-like, so loud and clear 

 Now like a whisper low and near. 

 And now again with rhythmic swells 

 And tinkling harmony of bells 

 He seems to play accompaniment 

 Upon some harp-like instrument." 



— Garret Newkirk 



The Wilson's Thrush, more commonly called the Veery, is 

 more uniformly subdued brown above, with the center of the 

 throat white, but creamy buff on the sides and breast. The 

 upper portion of the breast is lightly marked with wedge shaped 



