THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATUBALI8T. 



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their songs which they attribute to one species 

 culled by them the " Swamp Robin ;" for as 

 in their appearance so in their song, there if 

 to some degree a superficial resemblance; all 



have peculiar (Metallic voices anil sin^ some- 

 what similar melodies. Their songs resemble 

 each other much more than they resemble 

 that of any other species. The Tawny ranks 

 first in classification but the Hermit takes 

 precedence as a vocalist. Bis song is the 

 grandest; it is (he finest musical composition 

 and displays the most artistic execution, as 

 well as the greatest compass and power of 

 voice. 



One is surprised to find so little about the 

 songs of these ThrusheH in the writings of the 

 older ornithologists. Wilson says the Tawny 

 has "no song" and calls the Hermit "a 

 silent bird." Audubon never heard the song 

 of the Hermit, and Nuttall does it but scanty 

 justice. To my ear it is by far the finest song 

 we hear in these Northern woods, and fully 

 deserves the seemingly exaggerated title of 

 I glorious," given it by some modern writers. 

 The Winter Wren is his nearest rival and he 

 startles the listener into admiration by the 

 perfect torrent of sweet harmonies, of brilliant 

 passages and marvellously executed trills, he 

 hurls upon the stillness ol the forest solitude 

 in which he delights to roam ; but, beautiful 

 and joyous as his song is, in comparison with 

 the song of the Hermit Thrush it sounds 

 mechanical, and more like an air from a 

 music box. The music of the Hermit never 

 startles you ; it is in such perfect harmony 

 with the surroundings it is often passed by 

 unnoticed, but it steals upon the sense of an 

 appreciative listener like the quiet beauty of 

 the sunset. Very few persons have heard 

 him at his best. To accomplish this you must 

 steal up close to his forest sanctuary when the 

 day is done, and listen to the vesper hymn 

 that flows so gently out upon the hushed air 

 of the gathering twilight. You must be very 

 close to the singer or you will lose the sweet- 

 est and most tender and paihetic passages, so 

 low are they rendered — in the merest whispers. 

 I cannot, however agree with Mr. Burroughs 

 that he is more of an evening than a morning 

 songster, for I have often observed that the 

 birds in any given locality will sing more 

 frequently and for a longer period in the 

 morning than in the evening. I prefer to hear 

 him in the evening, for there is a difference; 

 the song in the morning is more sprightly — a 

 musician would say " has greater brilliancy 



of expression " — and lack- the extreme tender- 

 oi the evening tone, yet both bare much 

 the same notes and toe same " hymn-like 

 serenity." The bird- frequently render their 

 matinal hymns in concert and the dwellers in 

 a grove will burst out together in one full 

 chorus, forming a grandei /'• Deum - 

 thrilling —than is voiced by Burpliced choir 

 within cathedral walls. On one occasion an 

 Indian hunter after listening to one of I 

 (■lionises for a time said to me, " That make- 

 me feel queer." It was no slight influence 

 moved this red-skinned stoic of the forest to 

 such a speech. The song of the Olive-bat 

 ranks second in composition but he has the 

 sweetest and most mellow voice of the three. 

 The V eery displays the least musical ability 

 yet bis simple strain is exceedingly pleasant to 

 the ear and bis beautiful voice exhibit- most 

 strongly that peculiar resonant metallic tone 

 which is characteristic of the genus. 



I have not attempted to represent I 

 songs by words or notes, for all such experi- 

 ments as I have seen, appear to me to be 

 failures. Neither the words of Dr. Brewer or 

 Mr. Samuels, nor the syllables used by Mr. 

 Ridgway or Mr. Gentry convey to my mind 

 the idea of the songs of the birds that is im- 

 pressed on my memory j and after a patient 

 rehearsal of the notes of Mr. Horsford's score 

 on piano, violin and flute, I fail to recognize 

 the melodies he has attempted to write. 

 Perhaps Mr. Horsford will say that, as I do 

 not live in " a white pine country," I can 

 know nothing about these Thrushes, and I 

 certainly do not if his article in Forest and 

 Stream is to be taken as evidence of what is 

 correct. Besides their songs the three species 

 have call notes and two or three minor notes, 

 used chiefly when a mated pair are together. 

 The alarm note ot the Olive-backed, which 

 Mr. Minot thinks sounds like " whit," aud 

 which he calls "the ordinary note" of the 

 bird, is seldom used except the bird has a nest 

 near the intruder. I think the sound would 

 be better represented by "kwut v very 

 abruptly and quickly uttered, with a peculiar 

 emphatic intonation. But the songs and notes 

 of all birds must be heard to be understood 

 aud appreciated. 



