20 Birds of Lewiston-Auburn 



He certainly sang for no applause, for on seeing us 

 he flew to the ground uttering that harsh "peet," his note 

 of alarm. 



He has several other call-notes, some of which seem 

 too harsh for so sweet a singer. 



The vesper hymn of the hermit is the last song of the 

 day and in mid-summer, when the robin has lost some of 

 its exuberance, it "opens the matutinal chorus" at early 

 dawn. 



Mathews says : "One must hear the melody in order 

 to fully appreciate its subtle beauty; the song is charm- 

 ing because of its spirituality of tone and its depth of 

 expression." 



4. (758a) OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH 



A migrant; not common. The earliest date of arrival 

 that I have is May 19. It stops a few days or a week, 

 then goes farther north. In autumn it reappears from 

 the middle of September to the first of October on 

 its way south. I have seen one September 16 and one 

 was found nearly dead October 16. It has been known 

 to nest in this vicinity. Its song "sweet, clear and 

 liquid" is a combination of the hermit's and veery's. 

 During the migration of 191 5 we were privileged to hear 

 the song. 



5. (756) WILSON'S THRUSH ; VEBRY 



A common summer resident. Arrives early in May, 

 the first date I have is May 12, but it has been reported 

 earlier. It is never much in evidence till after the middle 

 of the month as no song is heard till the birds have been 

 here a few days. The song period practically ends the 

 last of July. I have never seen this thrush after Septem- 

 ber 20, but it has been reported later. According to Chap- 



