PASSERES — TURDID^. 207 



brushy woods, nesting well up in the trees. It is so unwary 

 that a near approach is easy, even if the birds do not come 

 near to inspect you. The delicate little song carries well 

 and must arrest the attention of the unobserving. As the 

 name suggests, it feeds upon flying insects, but also gleans 

 from leaves and branches. 



One might expect so small and apparently delicate a 

 bird to tarry in the south late, but it reaches Lorain county 

 as early as the first week in April in favorable seasons. It 

 apparently passes south again late in September, but au- 

 tumn records are not wholly satisfactory. 



Family Turdid^. Thrushes, Robins, Bluebirds. 



The Thrushes . have been placed at the top of the bird 

 branch because of their musical ability. It does not seem 

 likely that they will remain there long, because their struct- 

 ure pretty clearly points to a lower place. But wherever 

 they may finally rest in classification they will never cease to 

 attract the earnest attention of all those who love good bird 

 music. Added to this sesthetic value of the thrushes, there is 

 their undoubted usefulness economically. For the most 

 part they are woods birds, but during the migrations most 

 of them may be seen in the shade trees or in the back yards 

 which have been left bushy. Robin and Bluebird are too 

 familiar to call for any remarks of mine. They need no- 

 added encouragement to live with us, but with a little en- 

 couragement the Wood Thrush, that "Nightingale of 

 America," may easily be induced to. make its nest in the 

 back orchard, from whence he will give you a charming ser- 

 enade twice each day during the summer season. 



293. (755.) Hylocichla mustelina (Gmel.V 1. 



Wood Thrush. i 



Synonyms: Turdus mustelinus. 



Wood Robin, Wood Nightingale, American Song Thrush, 

 Song Thrush. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 163. 



