3G4 DIVISION I. VERTEBKAL ANIMALS. — CLASS IL AVES. 



down to dusk ; so tlmt, the sadder tlie day, the sweeter and more constant 

 is liis song. Ilis clear and interrupted whistle is likewise often nearly the 

 only voice of melody heard by the traveller to midday, in the heat of sum- 

 mer, as he traverses the silent, dark, and wooded wilderness, remote from 

 the haunts of men. It is nearly inijiossible hy words to convey any idea of 

 the peeidiar warble of this vocal hermit ; but, among his phrases, the soimd 

 oi''aifdee, peculiarly liquid, and followed by a trill, repeated in two separate 

 Lars, is readily recognizable. At times their notes bear a considerable 

 resemblance to tlK)se of Wilson's thrush; such as ch rhvlM hwlteliu, then 

 varied to 't-A villiu viUiu, \h villia vrhehti, then 'eA velu viUu, high and 

 shrill." 



About the 20th of May the song thrush builds its nest. This is placed 

 usually in a low alder or birch shrub, in a retired locality, almost always iu 

 the deep woods. It is composed outwardly of grass, leaves, and weeds, 

 bent and twined together. In this is built a nest composed of mud and 

 grass, and the whole is lined with fibrous roots and soft grass and moss. It 

 is placed on a low liranch of a tree, or in the branches of a shrub. 



''The fa\orite haunts of the wood thrush are low, thick-shaded hollows, 

 through which a small brook or rill meanders, overhung with cedar-bushes 

 that are mantled with wild vines. Near such a scene, he generally builds 

 liis nest in a laiu-el or alder bush. Outwardly, it is composed of withered 

 beech leaves of the preceding year, laid at bottom in considerable quantities, 

 no doubt to prevent damp and moisture from ascending through, being gen- 

 erally built in low, wet situations. Above these are layers of knotty stalks 

 or withered grass, mixed with mud, and smoothly plastered, above which is 

 laid a slight lining of fine black fibrous roots of plants." 



The eggs are usually four in number. They are of a uniform light-blue 

 color, without spots, and with a very slight tint of green. Their form is 

 rather long and pointed. Their dimensions are about 1.12 by .68 inch. 



Of the Song Thrush of Europe, we present from the JNIuseum of Animated 

 Nature the following account : — 



" This splendid songster is connnon over the greater portion of Europe, 

 being migratory in Norway, Sweden, and the northern districts, but station- 

 ary in England and in France, Italy, and other parts of the south. As 

 the winter advances, flights of thrushes arrive in Great Britain, with a 

 north or north-east wind, and after staying a few days to recruit, move 

 southwards." 



The thrush is a hardy bird, and begins to enliven the woods and glens with 

 his rich-toned notes even as early as the month of January, if the season be 

 temperate, and jiairs, and commences the work of nidification in ^Nlarch. 

 The nest is generally in a thick bush, amidst clustering ivy, or closely-tangled 



