114 WOOD THRUSH. 



tering the woods; and with whom I had been as it were acquain- 

 ted from his first arrival. The top of a large white oak that 

 overhung partof the glen, was usually the favourite pinnacle from 

 whence he poured the vsweetest melody; to which I had fre- 

 quently listened till night began to gather in the woods; and the 

 fire-flies to sparkle among the branches. But alas! in the pathetic 

 language of the poet, 



' One morn I miss'd him on th' accustom'd hill, 

 Along the vale, and on his favourite tree 

 Another came, nor yet beside the rill, 

 Nor up the glen nor in the wood was he.' 



A few days afterwards, passing along the edge of the rocks, I 

 found fragments of the wings and broken feathers of a Wood 

 Thrush killed by the Hawk, which I contemplated with un- 

 feigned regret, and not without a determination to retaliate on 

 the first of these murderers I could meet with. 



That I may not seem singular in my estimation of this bird, I 

 shall subjoin an extract of a letter from a distinguished American 

 gentleman to whom I had sent some drawings, and whose name, 

 were I at liberty to give it, would do honour to my humble 

 performance, and render any further observations on the subject 

 from me unnecessary. 



"As you are curious in birds, there is one well worthy your 

 " attention, to be found, or rather heard, in every part of 

 " America, and yet scarcely ever to be seen. It is in all the 

 " forests from spring to fall, and never but on the tops of the 

 " tallest trees, from which it perpetually serenades us with some 

 " of the sweetest notes, and as clear as those of the nightingale. 

 " I have followed it for miles without ever but once getting a 

 " good view of it. It is of the size and make of the mocking- 

 -bird, lightly thrush coloured on the back, and a grayish white 



"on the breast and belly. Mr. , my son-in-law, was in 



" possession of one which had been shot by a neighbour, he 

 "pronounced it a Muscicapa, and I think it much resembles 

 " the Moucho, rolle de la Martinique, 8 Buffon, 374, PL En- 



