HERMIT THRUSH. 185 
The song of the Wood Thrush is wholly unlike 
that of the Veery. It opens with the flutelike notes, 
—-—, and is sung disconnectedly, being broken 
ss — by pauses and by low notes, audible only 
Come to me, = when one is near the singer. 
The Hermit Thrush is a more northern bird than 
either the Veery or the Wood Thrush. It rarely nests at 
Thrush, 2 level south of Vermont or northern 
Screg pine Michigan, but in the higher portions of 
pallasié. Massachusetts and on the crests of the 
Plate LXXV. Catskills and Alleghanies in Pennsyl- 
vania, it is also found breeding. It winters from south- 
ern Illinois and New Jersey southward to the Gulf, it 
being the only member of its genus to inhabit the east- 
ern United States at that season. Its spring migrations 
occur between April 5 and May 10, and in the fall we 
see it from October 15 to November 25, while occasion- 
ally it may winter. 
During its migrations the Hermit Thrush usually fre- 
quents woodlands, where it may often be seen on or near 
the ground. Like. the Veery, it is a ground-nester, and 
its eggs, though slightly lighter in color, resemble those 
of the Veery and Wood Thrush in being plain, bluish 
green. When alighting, the Hermit has a characteristic 
habit of gently raising and lowering its tail, and at the 
same time uttering a low chuck. Sometimes it sings 
during the winter, in Florida, and also while migrating : 
but if you would hear this inspired songster at his best, 
you must visit him in his summer home. The Hermit’s 
song resembles that of the Wood Thrush in form, but 
it is more tender and serene. ‘O spheral, spheral! O 
holy, holy! Mr. Burroughs writes the its opening notes, 
and there is something about the words which seems to 
express the spirit of heavenly peace with which the bird’s 
song is imbued. 
