354 THE BIRDS 
The Veery is common in Tidewater Virginia from April 
15th to May 5th, on his way northward; passing through 
on his way southward from September 20th to October 
20th. In the mountains Professor Smyth reports them 
“at Blacksburg April 30th to May 6th.” Some remain 
to breed in the higher mountains, or Canadian Zone. 
They are not a common bird even in that area, and my 
father reports them only from Hot Springs, where he was 
unable to find evidence of their having bred. The song 
of the Veery is acknowledged by all nature lovers to be one 
of the sweetest of all bird songs, and rich indeed is the 
person who can boast of having heard it and that of its 
near relative, the Wood Thrush. Nor is the song of the 
Veery its only gift to mankind, for its food of insects, 
gathered from the forest undergrowth and ground, must 
be counted as no little factor in helping to keep in check 
many harmful species. They also are fond of all the 
smaller wild fruit or berries, and distribute the seeds 
freely in their flights both short and long. The nest is 
placed close to, or sometimes on the ground, a rather 
bulky affair of dry leaves, strips of bark, rootlets and 
grasses. The eggs number four to five, the ground a pale 
blue; a shade between that of the Wood Thrush and Cat- 
bird. Usually they are unmarked, but sometimes sets are 
found specked with faint markings of reddish-brown, 
which sets, of course, are prized most highly. I have a 
set in my collection with only a single egg thus marked, 
the balance being perfectly spotless. Fresh eggs May 15th 
to June Ist. Size, .88x.66. Only one brood a season. 
We found them quite abundant at Mountain Lake, Giles 
County, altitude 4,500; a beautiful series found between 
May 25th and June 15th. 
