436 NOTES ON THE 
pen of that master of words in the expression of science or 
sentiment, Dr. Elliott Coues in his Birds of the Colorado 
Valley, page 41: ‘The heavy growth of timber that fringes 
the streams including many nooks and dells, and broken 
ravines overgrown with thick shrubbery from out the masses 
of which the tall trees tower as if stretching forth their strong 
arms in kindly caressing of the humbler and weaker vegetation, 
their offspring. 
‘‘In such safe retreats, where the sombre shade is brightened 
here and there with stray beams of sunlight, in the warmth of 
which myriads of insects bathe their wings and flutter away 
their little span of life, humming a quaint refrain to the 
gurgle of the rivulet, the Veery meets its mate—the song rises 
—the wooed is won—the home is made. Should we force our 
unwelcome presence upon the bird who is brooding her newly- 
found treasures with the tenderest solicitude, she will nestle 
closer still, in hope of our passing by, till we might almost 
touch her, when, without a word of remonstrance or reproach, 
she takes a little flight, and settles a few yards away in silent 
appeal. If the time, the place, the scene, suffice not for our 
forbearance, with what poor words of hers may we then be 
moved ?” 
Whoever would try it after seeking such a spot as the above 
picture points out, as true to science as it is to sentiment, will 
find the nest either resting directly upon the ground amongst 
leaves, or a little above it. There is no remarkable exhibition 
of skill manifested in its structure, but on the other hand, it 
looks rather clumsy and bulky, yet it is fairly well finished 
within. It consists outwardly of leaves, and bark, weeds and 
grasses within, with no special lining. The cavity is slight 
compared with the excavation of some of the other Thrushes. 
The eggs are greenish-blue without any markings usually, 
and four to five in number. Occasionally obsolete specks may 
be detected on the larger end. The song of this interesting 
Species is quite remarkable, the notes being metallic and bell- 
like, very distinct and resonant. The quivering (rill, trill, 
trill, (rill graduated from a high key downward, increasing in 
volume with each ¢ril/ in the four repetitions, giving it a wild 
and delicious sadness, impossible to describe, but always felt 
when heard. The song is not unfrequently prolonged until 
between eleven and twelve o’clock in the evenings of warm, 
cloudy weather. Often when delayed, I have been riding 
through the dark woodlands bordering the lake, at that late 
