on four well-knozvn Thrushes of North America. 103


ta-weel’ali, twil’ah, twil’ah, “accompanied by a.fine trill wliich

rendered it truly seductive.”


The Wood Thrush (T. vmstelimis). I fancy I am correct

in saying that the Hermit Thrush and the ‘ Veery ’ have not been

represented in the Regent’s Park Zoological collection for some

time ; but not very long ago, four or five Wood Thrushes were

sent over with a collection of other birds of the United States,

and at least two of these pretty Thrushes are still alive.


They are easily distinguished by the foxy-red colour of the

upper surface, especially 011 the crown of the head and nape of

the neck, and by the black spotting on the sides of the body, the

whole of the ground work of the underparts, from throat to vent,

being very white. It inhabits the Eastern United States to the

Plains, north to Ontario and Massachusets, south in winter to

Guatemala and Cuba.


It breeds from Virginia and Kentucky, northwards. In

captivity this Thrush seems to be remarkably tame, hopping close

to one in the aviary, and quickly making itself at home.


For a description of this pretty Thrush in its wild state, I

must again avail myself of Mr. Nehrling’s work on North

American Birds, where he writes:—


“ It is found chiefly in low damp woodlands which are

“ thickly covered with undergrowth, and prefers for settlement

“the shady interior to the noisy and busy neighbourhood of man.

“ Here one can hear the wonderful, harmonious, flute-like song

“ from early dawn until the fall of the evening twilight.


“In the mountains of North Carolina and elsewhere, it

“ loves to nest in the grand evergreen rhododendrons. The Wood

“Thrush rarely appears in its northern home before the middle

“of May—often some days later—at the time when the first

“ flower-buds open upon the apple-trees.


“It usually remains for the first few days after its arrival

“ in dense undergrowth. Were it not for hearing repeatedly the

“ far-sounding ‘ Eolie ’ or ‘ Hallowlee,’ one would hardly know

“that this famous vocalist had returned home again. Only when

“ it sings does it perch on a tree-top and pour forth its exquisite

“ song.”


Mr. Stearns in his ‘ New England Bird Fife ’ writes :—


“The song of this Thrush is one of its most remarkable



