BIRDS OF 



Early in May they arrive from the south, and are soon 

 generally distributed over Southern Ontario ; but they are some- 

 what fastidious in their choice of a summer residence, and are 

 absent from many clumps of bush where we should expect to 

 find them. They avoid the dwellings of man, and seem most at 

 home in the retirement of the woods, where they raise their 

 young. During September they all move off to the south. 



297. TURDUS FUSCESCENS (STEPH.). 756. 

 Wilson's Thrush. 



Above uniform tawny ; below white, olive shaded on sides and strong ful- 

 vous tint on breast ; breast and sides of neck with small dusky spots. Length, 

 about 7 ; wing, 4; tail, 3. 



HAB. Eastern United States to the Plains, north to Manitoba, Ontario, 

 Anticosti and Newfoundland. 



Nest, on or near the ground ; composed of grass, leaves and rootlets, 

 rather loosely put together. 



Eggs, 4 to 5; greenish-blue, unspotted. 



With the exception of the Robin, the Veery is the most 

 numerous of the Thrushes which visit Southern Ontario. It 

 arrives here during the first week in May, and for a few days is 

 quite common in the woods everywhere. Many soon pass on 

 farther north to breed, but some remain and locate themselves 

 among the undergrowth in moist uncleared places, where they 

 spend the summer. On their first arrival they remain for a few 

 days quietly in the woods, but as soon as nesting begins the 

 clear, loud veery is heard at all hours of the day. The song has 

 a sharp metallic ring, and at first is pleasant to listen to, but 

 when heard in some favored locality, where several males are 

 answering each other, it becomes monotonous through fre- 

 quent repetition. It is rather a tender bird, and is one of the 

 first to move off in the fall. The young are able to shift for 

 themselves in August, and by the end of September all are gone. 



298. TURDUS ALICIA (BAIRD.). 757. 

 Gray-cheeked Thrush. 



Similar to the preceding, but without any buffy tint about head, nor 

 yellowish ring around eye ; averaging a trifle larger, with longer, slenderer 

 bill. 



298 



