Thrushes SONG-BIRDS. 



We were told that the woods were full of birds " that sang 

 all night," so we walked up the lane road, the soft light 

 coming partly from the setting sun and partly from the high 

 May moon. 



The waterfall resounded from where the hills dropped 

 suddenly to the hollow. A single Whip-poor-will darting 

 from the woods almost brushed my face and uttered his 

 mournful call in my ear. Above the waterfall was a chain 

 of ponds, and sitting on the rail of a separating bridge we 

 listened and waited. A fox crept down to the water to 

 drink, and as the wind blew toward us he did not suspect 

 our proximity and lapped at leisure, the clear moonlight 

 showing his shabby, faded spring coat. 



Suddenly from the woody banks the Veeries began their 

 song. They had been singing, by twos and threes ever since 

 sunset, but now the sound was as of a full chorus compared 

 to the humming of a few voices. From all sides the notes 

 rang : " Taweel 'ah, taweel 'ah ! " and then a tone lower : 

 '■' twil-ah, twil-ah ! " no two birds seeming to sing precisely 

 at once but continually echoed themselves and each other. 

 Why is not this bird called the Echo Thrush ? The name 

 would reveal its identity to any one who had ever heard the 

 song. 



The music lasted until after nine o'clock, when it died 

 away in a whisper like a benediction of the night and the 

 Whip-poor-will was left as sentry for the midnight hours. 



Gray-cheeked Thrush: Turdus alicice. 



Length: 7.60-8 inches. 



Male and Female : No eye ring. Head and back uniform olive-brown. 



Throat buff and slightly speckled ; sides dull grayish white, the 



specks running into a wash. Cheeks gray ; bill slender. 

 Song : In tone like other Thrushes, but differently accented — " Wee-o, 



wee-o, tit-ti wee-o ! " (Torrey.) 

 Season : May, remaining a week or so ; return migration in October. 

 Breeds : Northward from northern New England ; and var. bicknelli 



in New York and New England. 

 Nest : In bushes made of moss, twigs, and grass. 

 Eggs : i, greenish blue, speckled with brown. 



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