( ^62 ) 



THE TAWNY THRUSH. 



Turd us Wilsonii, Bo nap. 



PLATE CLXIV. Male. 



The song of this northern species greatly resembles that of its re- 

 lative, the ever-pleasing Wood-Thrush. While at Charleston, in March 

 1834, I heard a bird singing in the garden-ground of my learned and 

 highly respected fellow-citizen Mr Poinsett, in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of the city. I mentioned the circumstance to my friend John 

 Bachman, who expressed his surprise on account of the early period of 

 the season. The next day, as we were both going out to the woods, we 

 heard the same music again, when a short discussion ensued, and as neither 

 of us could be positive whether it came from a Wood-Thrush or not, we 

 shot the bird, which we instantly discovered to be of the species which 

 has been honoured with the name of its illustrious discoverer. This was 

 the more extraordinary, as that Thrush is very rarely seen in Carolina 

 either in winter or in summer. It was indeed the first time my friend 

 Bachman had ever heard its voice. 



Wilson's Thrush is never seen or heard in Louisiana during spring, 

 and a few only pass through the lower portions of that State in autumn. 

 I suppose its migration from the farther south is along the declivities of 

 the range of the Alleghany Mountains, at least for some distance, and it 

 probably takes place under night. It reaches the mountainous districts 

 of Pennsylvania early in the month of May, but few if any breed there. 

 In the upper parts of the State of New York, they become more plenti- 

 ful, and there some undoubtedly spend the summer ; but from Massa- 

 chusetts eastward to Labrador, they become more and more abundant. 

 On the 20th of July, while in the latter country, I saw the young of this 

 species following their mother. They were there almost full grown, and 

 could fly a hundred yards or so at a time. By the 12th of August none 

 were seen, although during my stay they were as common as any other 

 birds. In the latter part of the same month, I met with those which had 

 bred at Newfoundland, on their return to the south, and followed them 

 into Massachusetts. 



At Labrador, as well as in the latter State, the Tawny Thrush retains 



