156 USEFUL BIRDS. 
made on adult birds; and, were the food of the nestlings 
considered, the percentage of injurious insects eaten would 
probably be higher. A large proportion of the fruit eaten 
by these birds in Massachusetts consists of wild berries, 
particularly such as are unfit for human consumption. The 
family, therefore, as a whole is eminently beneficial. 
The Robin and Bluebird are not typical woodland birds, 
although the Robin both breeds and feeds in the woods to a 
considerable extent. Both birds nest in the orchard, but feed 
generally in gardens and fields. For this reason they will 
be considered farther on, among the birds of the field and 
garden. The Hermit which breeds sparingly in the State 
and the other Thrushes will be omitted. 
Wilson’s Thrush. Tawny Thrush. Veery. 
Hylocichla fuscescens. 
Length.— About seven and one-half inches. 
Adult. — Above, tawny brown ; no white eye ring ; below, mainly whitish ; throat 
and upper breast washed with buffy or yellowish brown, faintly marked 
with a few dark spots. 
Nest.— Usually on or quite near the ground, containing no mud or leaf mold, 
and composed of grass, dried leaves, grapevine bark, etc. 
Eggs.— Greenish-blue; smaller than those of the Robin and lighter than the 
Catbird’s. 
Season. — May to September. 
This gentle bird may be recognized by its light tawny 
upper parts and. the faintness of the elongated spots on its 
light brown-washed breast. It is a summer resident through- 
out most of Massachusetts, but is generally confined to the 
vicinity of swampy woods or streams, and is not found 
ordinarily on the summits of the highest elevations. It runs 
about much in the manner of the Robin, but rather more 
listlessly, and often with drooping wings. Alert, but not 
suspicious, it seems to be aware of its protective coloring, 
which makes difficult the task of distinguishing it from the 
leafy ground of its favorite groves. Its flight is rapid, and 
when much alarmed it vanishes swiftly among the vistas of 
the woods. Although it often alights on the lower branches 
of trees, it is seldom seen among tree tops, but keeps habit- 
ually near the ground, where it finds most of its food. The 
song of this Thrush, one of the sweetest sounds of the wood- 
