APPENDIX. 161 
Woop Turusu. — Contin 
music of the birds has received so little attention. The 
other evening I heard these notes : — 
Is it not wonderful that a bird should give so exquisite a 
succession of tones? No human genius can surpass it. I 
repeat it, the birds have found out the beautiful and have 
been our teachers.” — C., S. P., in a letter dated June 17, 1885. 
“In elaborate technique and delicious portamento, it surpasses all the 
other thrushes. .. . The wood thrushes, more than any other birds I 
know of, exhibit various degrees of excellence, some individuals singing 
much more beautifully than others.” — Nelson, H. L.: Birds songs about 
Worcester, p. 46. 
For variations in songs of birds of the same species, see Index: Songs, 
Variations in. 
“ The song of this thrush is one of its most remarkable and pleasing 
characteristics. No lover of sweet sounds can have failed to notice it, 
and having once known its source, no one can fail to recognize it when 
heard again. The melody is one of great sweetness and power, and con- 
sists of several parts, the last note of which resembles the tinkling of a 
times with a friend, but oftener alone with his pitch-pipe and a scrap of 
music-paper. When successful, he would return, elated and beaming, to 
talk about his experience, and transfer the song he had taken, after writ- 
ing it carefully over, to a sheet of music paper, for reference when he 
should write up the description, later. 
“He said that the first song of a bird, or rather on hearing a song for 
the first time, it did not present itself clearly to his mind. It was only 
after several repetitions that he unravelled it and was able to write it out. 
“When at work, writing up his descriptions, he usually preferred to be 
alone, but invariably would wish to read aloud what he had written and 
talk about it, and would generally end by saying, even though changes 
were suggested, ‘ Well, I’ll send it to just as it is and see what 
he says to it.’ His best work was always done in the morning or first 
part of the day.” — Cheney, Mrs. Julia C., in a letter to the editor, dated July 
14, 1890, Franklin, Mass. 
11 
