WOOD THRUSH; SONG THKUSH. 



TTJRDUS MUSTELINTJS. 



THIS is probably the most popular singer of all the 

 thrushes. He may be heard at any hour of the 

 day during the mating and nesting season, but his best 

 performances are at morning and evening. While his 

 melodies are not so varied as those of the brown or 

 those of the hermit thrush, they are exquisite, the 

 quality of tone being indescribably beautiful and fasci- 

 nating. Chancing to hear him in the edge of the 

 woods at twilight as he sings, 





in a moment one is oblivious to all else, and ready to 

 believe that the little song is not of earth, but a wander- 

 ing strain from the skies. How is it that a bird has that 

 inimitable voice? Whence his skill in the use of it? 

 Whence the inspiration that, with the utmost refinement, 

 selects and arranges the tones in this scrap of divine 

 melody ? Hark ! 



