BIRDS OF THE PASTURE AND FOREST. 17.3 



the Catbird, but he is not partial to low grounds. He 

 prefers the dry hill and upland, and those places which 

 are half cleared, and seems averse to deep woods. Still, 

 though less of a hermit than the Catbird, he is also 

 less familiar. He dislikes the proximity of dwelling- 

 houses, and courts the solitude of open fields and dry 

 hills distant from the town. This bird probably owes 

 its shyness and timidity to the desperation with which 

 the species have been hunted by men who are unwilling 

 that the birds shall take any pay for the services they 

 perform ; and who, to save a dozen cherries from a bird, 

 would sacrifice the tree to mischievous insects. Modern 

 civilized society bears the besom of a devastation greater 

 than the world has yet seen, and when it has completed 

 its work, and destroyed every bird and animal that is 

 capable of doing any service to agriculture, man will 

 perish too, and the whole earth become a combined 

 Sahara and wilderness of Mount Auburns. 



The Bed-Thrush builds in a low bush, or more fre- 

 quently upon the ground under a bush. I think he sings 

 at some distance from his nest, selecting for his musical 

 moments the branch of a tree that projects over a rustic 

 roadside. As the roadside supplies a greater abundance 

 of larvae than the wild pastures, it may be that after hav- 

 ing taken his repast, he perches near the place where he 

 obtained it. He is not partial to any certain hour for 

 singing, but is most musical in fine and bright weather. 

 I can always hear him where he dwells in the vocal 

 season, morning, noon, and evening. When employed 

 in song, he makes it his exclusive occupation, and sings, 

 though moderately, with uninterrupted fervor. In this 

 respect he is distinguished above almost all other species. 

 I have observed, however, that if he be disturbed while 

 singing, he immediately becomes silent and may not 

 renew his song under an hour. 



