200 PASSERES. AMPELID^E. 



before the sun has peeped over the distant moun- 

 tain-peaks, and before the light has struggled into 

 the gloomy forest on either side; it is at early 

 day, that if we traverse some narrow rocky bridle- 

 path that winds around the hill-sides, choked up 

 with jointer and glass-eye berry, and overhung 

 by towering Santa Marias, cabbage-palms, and tree- 

 ferns, we become familiar with this interesting bird. 

 The voices of many are then heard saluting the 

 opening day, some near at hand, some scarce au- 

 dible in the distance ; and as all do not pipe in 

 the same key, we sometimes hear beautiful and 

 startling chords produced. Although there is a 

 richness in the tones, which the human voice in 

 whistling can by no means attain, yet the birds 

 will frequently respond to an imitation of their 

 call. Now and then we may obtain a sight of one, 

 or a pair, as they seem generally in pairs, sitting, 

 with a melancholy absorbed air, on some low tree 

 a little way within the forest, manifesting little 

 alarm or curiosity. 



It was soon after I became acquainted with this 

 bird that I received the following note from Mr. 

 Hill: in reference to an intention which I then 

 had of ascending that magnificent ridge called the 

 Blue Mountains, whose summits are 8000 feet 

 high. " There are two living attractions in these 

 mountains, a crested snake, and a sweetly mys- 

 terious singing bird called the Solitaire. This bird 

 is a Thrush, and it is worth a journey to hear 

 his wonderful song. I find among some detached 

 notes of mine, the following memorandum respect- 



