CXCIV 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
piest and most appropriate compositions that our literature can 
boast of. 
In a work abounding with so many excellencies, it would not 
be difficult to point out passages of merit, any one of which would 
give the author a just claim to the title of a describe!* of no ordi- 
nary powers. 
We select the following description from the history of the 
Wood Thrush : At whatever time the Wood Thrush may arrive, 
he soon announces his presence in the woods. With the dawn of 
the succeeding morning, mounting to the top of some tall tree, that 
rises from a low thick-shaded part of the woods, he pipes his few, 
but clear and musical, notes in a kind of ecstacy ; the prelude or 
symphony to which strongly resembles the double-tongueing of a 
German flute, and sometimes the tinkling of a small bell. The 
whole song consists of five or six parts, the last note of each of 
which is in such a tone as to leave the conclusion evidently sus- 
pended ; the finale is finely managed, and with such charming 
effect as to soothe and tranquillize the mind, and to seem sweeter 
and mellower at each successive repetition. Rival songsters, of 
the same species, challenge each other from different parts of the 
wood, seeming to vie for softer tones, and more exquisite respon- 
ses. During the burning heat of the day they are comparatively 
mute; but in the evening the same melody is renewed, and con- 
tinued long after sunset. Even in dark, wet and gloomy weather, 
when scarce a single chirp is heard from any other bird, the clear 
notes of the Wood Thrush thrill through the dropping woods, 
from morning to night; and it may truly be said that the sadder 
the day the sweeter is his song.” 
Perhaps my admiration of this passage maybe dependant, in 
some measure, upon the association of ideas, having been accus- 
tomed to frequent the favourite haunts of this exquisite musician, 
which are “ low thick-shaded hollows, through which a small brook 
or rill meanders, overhung with alder bushes that are mantled 
