OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 317 



and Mr. Saunders reports it as not ver}' rare near London. It 

 keeps mostly to the tops of tall trees, and might readily be over- 

 looked by any one not acquainted with its habits. 



In the breeding season it is said to have a pleasing song, 

 and it shows considerable spirit m driving off intruders from the 

 neighborhood of its nest. 



Family TURDID^. Thrushes, Solitaires, Stonechats, 

 Bluebirds, etc., 



Subfamily TURDIN^E. Thrushes. 



Genus TURDUS Linn^us. 



Subgenus HYLOCICHLA Baird. 



296. TURDUS MUSTELINUS (Gmel.). 755. 



Wood Thrush. 



Above bright tawny, shading into olive on rump and tail ; beneath white, 

 everywhere except throat and belly, with large distinct spots of dusky ; bill 

 dusky above, yellowish below ; legs flesh-colored. Length, 7^ inches ; wing, 

 4 ; tail, 3. 



Hab. Eastern United States to the Plains, north to Southern Michigan, 

 Ontario and Massachusetts, south in winter to Guatemala and Cuba. 



Nest, in a sapling or low tree, seldom more than 20 feet from the ground ; 

 composed of twigs, leaves, grass, rootlets and moss, cemented together with 

 clay. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; deep greenish-blue. 



The Wood Thrush is a shy, retiring songster, little known 

 except to those who are fond of rambling in the woods in spring 

 time. The favorite resort of the species is in moist beech 

 woods, where the clear, flute-like notes of the male may be 

 heard in the early morning, and also toward sunset, during the 

 months of May and June. Were the song of the Wood Thrush 

 continuous, the bird would take the highest rank among the 

 songsters of the grove. Its tones are loud and full of 

 liquid tenderness, but they suddenly break off short, which to 

 us is a matter of regret. 



