112 WOOD THRUSH. 



been the first and almost only naturalist who has taken notice 

 of the merits of this bird. 



This sweet and solitary songster inhabits the whole of North 

 America from Hudson's bay to the peninsula of Florida. He ar- 

 rives in Pennsylvania about the 20th of April, or soon after; 

 and returns to the south about the beginning of October. The 

 lateness or earliness of the season seems to make less difference 

 in the times of arrival of our birds of passage than is generally 

 imagined. Early in April the woods are often in considerable 

 forwardness, and scarce a summer bird to be seen. On the other 

 hand vegetation is sometimes no farther advanced on the 20th of 

 April, at which time (e. g. this present year 1807) numbers of 

 Wood Thrushes are seen flitting through the moist woody hol- 

 lows, and a variety of the Motacilla genus chattering from al- 

 most every bush, with scarce an expanded leaf to conceal them. 

 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 ecstasy; the prelude, 

 or symphony to which, strongly resembles the double tongueing 

 of a German flute, and sometimes the tinckling 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 charm- 

 ing effect as to sooth and tranquillize the mind, and to seem 

 sweeter and mellower at each successive repetition. Rival song- 

 sters, of the same species, challenge each other from different 

 parts of the wood, seeming to vie for softer tones and more ex- 

 quisite responses. During the burning heat of the day,, they are 

 comparatively mute; but in the evening the same melody is re- 

 newed, and continued long after sun-set. Those who visit our 

 woods, or ride out into the country at these hours, during the 

 months of May and June, will be at no loss to recognize, from 

 the above description, this pleasing musician. Even in dark, wet 

 and gloomy weather, when scarce a single chirp is heard from any 



