34-^ 



song. To-day all is silence, save the chirping of the in- 

 ferior singers, but tomorrow his joyous notes will burst 

 upon you like an unexpected pleasure. All through the 

 fragrant season of buds and blossoms is heard his sweet 

 madrigal that awakens the tender lyric chords of the hu- 

 man heai't. 



The brown thrush is not the bird to live in obscurity. 

 You can not pass through the countiy in the early morn- 

 ing of blooming spring without having jour ear charmed 

 with the rich notes, which, with such a nicety of modu- 

 lation, fall from, you know not where. 



The eye wanders in search of him from tree to tree, 

 till at last, upon the very topmost bough, he is seen gent- 

 ly swaying in the morning breeze, wilh the rise and fall 

 of his song. In size he is somewhat larger than the fam- 

 iliar robin, but of a more slender and elegant form. 



The back and wings arc. of a rich tawny russet, and the 

 breast and sides are light, spotted with dark brown. 



Decked in his rather sober suit, he leads you to think 

 he is of a prosaic turn, while, in truth, his nature is the 

 most poetic. 



Though he is inclined to be friendly, there is a cautious 

 dignity about Mm that demands respect. Upon }-our too 

 near approach he watches you with his beautiful yellow 

 eye, with an expression of half curiosity, half distrust; 

 and, at last, when compelled to seek safety in flight, it 

 is with a dropping, fluttering motion. Unlike his Euro- 



