i, 
WOOD THRUSH. 17 
eae of the woods, he pipes his few, but clear and musical notes, in a 
ind of ecstasy ; the prelude, or symphony to which, strongly resem- 
bles the double-tonguing of a German flute, and sometimes the tin- 
kling of a small bell; the whole song consists of five or six parts, the 
last note of each of which is in such a tone as to leave the conclusion 
evidently suspended; the finalé is finely managed, and with such 
charming effect as to soothe and tranquillize the mind, and to seem 
sweeter and mellower at each successive repetition. Rival songsters, 
of the same species, challenge each other from different parts of the 
wood, seeming to vie for softer tones: and more exquisite responses. 
During the burning heat of the day, they are comparatively mute; but 
in the evening the same melody is renewed, and continued long after 
sunset. Those who visit our woods, or ride out into the country at 
these hours, during the months of May and June, will be at no loss to 
recognize, from the above description, this pleasing musician. Even 
in dark, wet, and gloomy weather, when scarce a single chirp is heard 
from any other bird, the clear notes of the Wood Thrush thrill through 
the dropping woods, from morning to night; and it may truly be said 
that the sadder the day the sweeter is his song. 
The favorite haunts of the Wood Thrush are low, thick-shaded hol- 
lows, through which a small brook or rill meanders, overhung with 
alder bushes, that are mantled with wild vines. Near such a scene 
he generally builds his nest, in a laurel or alder bush. Outwardly it 
is composed of withered beech leaves of the preceding year, laid at 
bottom in considerable quantities, no doubt to prevent damp and 
moisture from ascending through, being generally built in low, wet 
situations ; above these are layers of knotty stalks of withered grass, 
mixed with mud, and smoothly plastered, above which is laid a slight 
lining of fine, black, fibrous roots of plants. The eggs are four, some- 
times five, of a uniform light blue, without any spots. 
The Wood Thrush appears always singly or in pairs, and is of a shy, 
retired, unobtrusive disposition. With the modesty of true merit, he 
charms you with his song, but is content, and even solicitous,to be 
concealed. He delights to trace the irregular windings of the brook, 
where, by the luxuriance of foliage, the sun is completely shut out, 
or only plays in a few interrupted beams on the glittering surface of 
the water. He.is also fond of a particular species of lichen which 
grows in such situations, and which, towards the fall, I have uniformly 
found in their stomachs: berries, however, of various kinds, are his 
principal food, as well as beetles and caterpillars. The feathers on 
the hind head are longer than is usual with birds which have no crest; 
these he sometimes erects ; but this particular cannot be observed but 
on a close examination.* ' 
Those who have paid minute attention to the singing of birds, know 
well, that the. voice, energy, and expression, in the same tribe, differ 
* Jn addition to the above picture of the manners of this Thrush, Mr. Audubon 
remarks, that it performs its migrations during the day, gliding swiftly through the 
woods, without appearing in the open country; that, on alighting upon a branch, it 
gives its tail a few jets, ultering at each motion a low, chuckling note, peculiar to 
Itself; it then stands still for a while, with the feathets of the hind part a little raised. 
It walks and hops along the branches with much ease, and bends down its head to 
peep at the objects ie Pa Ep. . 
