THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS 21 
worm-eating warbler, ‘the fox sparrow, etc. The 
absence of all birds of prey, and the great number of 
flies and insects, both the result of proximity to the 
village, are considerations which no hawk-fearing, 
peace-loving minstrel passes over lightly; hence the 
popularity of the resort. 
But the crowning glory of all these robins, fly- 
catchers, and warblers is the wood thrush. More 
abundant than all other birds, except the robin and 
catbird, he greets you from every rock and shrub. 
Shy and reserved when he first makes his appear- 
. _ ance in May, before the end of June he is tame and 
familiar, and sings on the tree over your head, or 
on the rock a few paces in advance. A pair even 
built their nest and reared their brood within ten or 
twelve feet of the piazza of a large summer-house in 
the vicinity. But when the guests commenced to 
arrive and the piazza to be thronged with gay 
crowds, I noticed something like dread and forebod- 
ing in the manner of the mother bird; and from 
her still, quiet ways, and habit of sitting long and 
silently within a few feet of the precious charge, it 
seemed as if the dear creature had resolved, if pos- 
sible, to avoid all observation. 
/ Tf we take the quality of melody as the test, the 
wood thrush, hermit thrush, and the veery thrush 
stand at the head of our list of songsters. 
Fhe mockingbird undoubtedly possesses the 
greatest range of mere talent, the most varied exec- 
utive ability, and never fails to surprise and delight 
one anew at each hearing; but being mostly an 
