28 Tue Birps AsoutT Us. 
bird, who year after year continue to frequent and build in the same 
cave, box, or hole in the decayed orchard tree.” 
While I cannot see that the facts offered in the 
conclusion of the lines quoted are necessary evidence 
of Nuttall’s inference, I bring without hesitation my 
wood-thrush to notice as an instance of the same 
‘bird returning to the same spot, and returning mated, 
which at least proves courtship prior to the north- 
ward migratorial journey, or, as I believe, permanent 
marriage. 
Another small thrush is Swainson’s, or the Olive- 
backed, and this, again, is one of those migrants that 
favor the people of the far north only with their 
nesting-time melodies. 
«The tone of its voice is richer and rounder—more flute-like and 
less metallic—than that of any other of the small thrushes; but the 
song lacks that spiritual quality so conspicuous in the hymn-like 
melody of the Hermit.’’ 
The Gray-checked Thrush is rare and local, and 
with no marked peculiarities over its more abundant 
brethren. 3 
But over all in importance, although without any 
of the musical charm of the thrushes we have men- 
tioned, is the ever-abundant, omnipresent Robin. 
Everybody knows a robin at a glance. It is one 
ornithological fact that has penetrated even our large 
cities, and so, too, has the bird. Ifa tall tree happens 
to be in a city church-yard, the robin, when flying 
over, will spy it out, and accept it as a nesting-place. 
“The robin is distributed in the breeding season over the whole 
United States, excepting the extreme south, and over the most of 
