102



Mr. Hubkrt D. Astrry,



in shape, size, and demeanour, but may be recognised by its grey

flanks and uniform tawny-brown, or russet-brown colour, the

tail being of the same tint as the back. The throat is pale buff

with very light dusky spots. 1


Its summer quarters are in the Eastern United States,

extending beyond the frontier into British North America. It „

goes north to Hudson’s Bay, and west to the Saskatchewan.


It is, with the exception of the American Robin, the commonest

of the Thrushes in Southern New England during the season.


It enters Connecticut about the last week of April, and reaches

Massachusets early in May.


Some of Mr. Nelirling’s notes are as follows :—“According

“to my experience the Veery is shy and circumspect, more re-

“ tiring and fonder of solitude than the Wood-Thrush, and con¬

sequently rarer in woods often frequented by man. As a rule

“ it is found in the deepest seclusion. It chooses for its haunts

“and nesting place more swampy and damper spots than its

“congener, the Wood-Thrush.


“ It is always found in the neighbourhood of water, either ;

“close to a rushing rivulet, wandering under thick shrubbery,


“ near a thick gurgling spring or a pond. In the sunlight falling

“ through the high trees myriads of mosquitoes, gnats, and other

“ water-loving insects hover. The whole forest ground is covered

“ with old completely moss-grown logs which have almost turned

“to soil. One sinks almost to the knees into the decomposing

“ mass, which is the very life-spring of the rich plant-growth.


“ In this silent solitude the Veery must be sought, if the friend

“ of nature and especially of bird-life would make its acquaint¬

ance. The Veery is one of the most exquisite songsters of its

“ forest solitude. It is in truth a rival of the Hermit, the Olive- j

“ back, and the Wood-Thrush. One hardly knows to which to

“ award the palm. In many respects the Veery’s song reminds

“ one of the Wood-Thrush, but it is not so loud and flute-like,

“and seems to be more modulated. The bird sings so diligently,

“that it is often heard long after sunset. Hence in some places

“in New England this bird has been called the ‘ Nightingale.’”


The song has been described as consisting of an inexpres¬

sibly delicate metallic utterance of the syllables ta-weel’ah,.



