138
Concord, Mass.
1898
June 21
(No 3)
  Without question the WIlson's Thrushes furnish the
finest as well as the most copious music of any of the
birds which breed in this immediate region. As twilight
was falling this evening they made the woods fairly ring
with their clear, flute-like voices. They are almost as
numerous in the pine woods on the tops and sides of
the hills as in the swamps. There is less irregularity
and variability in the songs of different individuals
than is the case with the Hermit and Wood Thrushes
but yet there are some birds whose voices are finer
and clearer and whose notes are more varied and
intricate than those of the common run.
  I do not remember to have noted before that the
Wilson's Thrush, like so many other birds, has favorite
singing perches to which it resorts day after day. This,
at least, is true of a bird which is breeding somewhere
near the east end of Ball's Hill and which sings every
evening in the large red oak on the edge of Holden's 
meadow sitting invariably not only on the same branch
but actually on the same twig and always facing
towards the north-west.
  The Brown Thrushes are still in full song. A fine-voiced
bird which inhabits the oak sprouts on the hill just
above the cabin serenades us with his rich and varied
music at morning and evening as well as at
frequent intervals during the day. He does not
appear to have any fixed or favorite singing station
but he always perches high up among the oaks
& often on their topmost sprays.