THE WOOD THRUSH 



The wood thrush is the handsomest species of 

 the thrush family. In grace and elegance of 

 manner he has no equal. Such a gentle, high- 

 bred air, and such inimitable ease and composure 

 in his flight and movement ! He is a poet in very 

 word and deed. His carriage is music to the eye. 

 His performance of the commonest act, as catch- 

 ing a beetle, or picking a worm from the mud, 

 pleases like a stroke of wit or eloquence. Was 

 he a prince in the olden time, and do the regal 

 grace and mien stiU adhere to him in his trans- 

 formation? What a finely porportioned form! 

 How plain, yet rich, his color, — the bright rus- 

 set of his back, the clear white of his breast, 

 with the distinct heart-shaped spots ! It may be 

 objected to Robin that he is noisy and demon- 

 strative ; he hurries away or rises to a branch 

 with an angry note, and flirts his wings in ill-bred 

 suspicion. The thrasher, or red thrush, sneaks 

 and skulks like a culprit, hiding in the densest 

 alders; the catbird is a coquette and a flirt, as 

 well as a sort of female Paul Pry; and the che- 

 wink shows his inhospitality by espying your 

 movements like a detective. The wood thrush 



