HERMIT THRUSH. 





There is nothing the Wood Thrush can do which will 

 compare with a performance like this. I am sorry to 

 disagree with the opinions of several writers on orni- 

 thology who find certain restrictions in the Hermit's 

 song, and think the notes are not remarkable for variety 

 or volume, but it seems to me, the magnitude of this 

 Thrush's melodic ability, not to speak of his brilliant ex- 

 ecution, is beyond the conception of any one until he 

 devotes at least three or four seasons to a studied analy- 

 sis of the music. Some of the notes possess sufficient 

 volume to be distinctly heard at a distance of a quarter 

 of a mile, yet unless one is within thirty feet or less of 

 the singer, it is impossible to catch the tout ensemble 

 of the song, or gauge the extent of its melodic variety. 



265 



