IN THE HEMLOCKS. 57 



like notes, one of the most simple expressions of mel- 

 ody to be heard, and scuds away, and I see it is the 

 veery, or Wilson's thrush. He is the least of the 

 thrushes in size, being about that of the common 

 bluebird, and he may be distinguished from his rela- 

 tives by the dimness of the spots upon his breast. 

 The wood-thrush has very clear, distinct oval spots 

 on a white ground ; in the hermit, the spots run more 

 into lines, on a ground of a faint bluish-white ; in 

 veery, the marks are almost obsolete, and a few rods 

 off his breast presents only a dull yellowish appear- 

 ance. To get a good view of him you have only to 

 Bit down in his haunts, as in such cases he seems 

 equally anxious to get a good view of you. 



From those tall hemlocks proceeds a very fine 

 insect-like warble, and occasionally I see a spray 

 tremble, or catch the flit of a wing. I watch and 

 watch till my head grows dizzy and my neck is in 

 danger of permanent displacement, and still do not 

 get a good view. Presently the bird darts, or, as it 

 seems, falls down a few feet in pursuit of a fly or a 

 moth, and I see the whole of it, but in the dim light 

 *m undecided. It is for such emergencies that I have 

 brought my gun. A bird in the hand is worth half 

 a dozen in the bush, even for ornithological purposes ; 

 and no sure and rapid progress can be made in the 

 *tudy without taking life, without procuring speci- 

 mens. This bird is a warbler, plainly enough, from 

 his habits and manner ; but what kind of warbler ? 

 Look on him and name him : a deep orange or flame- 



