HISTORY 
OF 
THE AMERICAN FAUNA. 
BIRDS. 
Family — TURDID^E. 
THE WOOD THEUSH [Turdus mvstelinus). — “This 
sweet and solitary songster,” says Wilson, “inliabits 
the wliole of North America, from Hudson’s Bay to 
tlie peninsula of Florida. At wliatever time tlie 
Wood 'I'lirush arrives, lie soon announces his presence 
in tlie 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 
ecstasy, the prelude or symphony to which strongly 
resembles the double-tonguing of a German flute, 
and sometimes the tinkling of a small bell. 'J'he 
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 suspended. 'I'hejfinaJe is finely 
managed, and with such charming effect as to soothe 
and tranquilize the mind, and to seem sweeter and 
mellower at each successive repetition. Even in 
dark, wet and gloomy weather, when scarce a single 
chirp is heard from any other bird, the clear notes 
of the Wood 'I'lirush thrill through the drooping 
woods from morning till night ; and it may be said 
truly, that the sadder the day, the sweeter his song.” 
'i’lie favorite haunts of the Wood 'I'lirush are low, 
thick-shaded hollows, through which a small brook 
or rill meanders, overhung with alder bushes that are 
mantled with wild vines. Near such a scene he 
generally builds his nest. 'The eggs are four, some- 
times five, of a uniform blue, without spots. 
In America the Wood 'I'lirush holds the first rank 
as a songster, and is considered to be equal to the 
Nightingale and Song 'i'lirush of Europe. It is 
said to be easily reared in confinement, and to sing 
as well then as when free. 'I'liough regarded as a 
rare bird comparatively, it is heard in most portions 
of the Central Park, and it even frequents the trees 
overhanging the Fifth Avenue, in New York — a 
most exposed situation — yet the bird is with great 
difficulty seen. 
THE HEEMIT THEDSH {Turdus pallasii) is a 
species somewhat smaller than the former, but very 
closely resembling it. It is very secluded in habits, 
has no song, and its eggs are spotted ; differing, 
therefore, from the Wood 'I'lirush in several essential 
particulars. Its range of habitat is through Eastern 
North America to the Mississippi River. 
DWAKF THEUSH {Turdtis nanus) is similar to the 
Hermit 'I’lirush, but smaller, being only six and a 
half inches in length, with a spread of wing three and 
a third inches. It is confined to the Pacific Coast 
of North America, and along the valley of Gila and 
El Paso. 
WILSON’S THEUSH {Turdus fusceseem). — This 
bird, called formerly by Wilson the 'I’awny 'I’lirush, 
is like the Hermit 'I’lirush, in so far as it has no song, 
but a sharp chuck. It is ten inches in length, and 
twelve inches in extent of wings. “'I’his species,” 
says Prof. Baird, “is well distinguished among the 
America.n 'I’lirushes by the indistinctness of the spots 
beneath, and their being confined mainly to the fore- 
part of the breast.” 
THE OEEGON THEUSH {Turdus ustulatus) is found 
on the coast region of Oregon and Washington 'I’er- 
ritories. Its length is about seven and a half inches. 
THE OLIVE-BACKED THEUSH {Turdus swainsonii). 
— “'I’liis species is at once distinguished from the 
others by the perfectly uniform and pure dull oliva- 
ceous shade of its upper parts, most strongly marked 
and appreciable on the rump and tail. 'I'lie throat 
and breast are, perhaps, more reddisli than in any of 
our species, and the tinge in the marking on the side 
of the head is very much more decided than in any 
other ; the spots on the breast larger than in 'I', ustu- 
latus, and rather more numerous than in pallasii.” — 
Baird. 'I'lie range of this bird is from Eastern 
North America to the Black Hills, south to Mexico 
and Peru, and north as far as Greenland. 
THE EOBIN {Turdus migrator ius). — 'This 'I’lirush, 
so well known to Americans, and especially those of 
the northern and eastern portions of the United 
States, as the Robin, has derived its name undoubt- 
edly from the early English settlers, who found in its 
familiar habits, and perhaps in its color and general 
appearance, a semblance of the Robin-redbreast of 
the Mother Country. 'The Robin is one of the 
earliest songsters of the spring. Frequently in March 
he is seen in flocks about the fields, while the snow 
is yet upon the ground. His fondness for the society 
of man is noticeable wherever he is found : building 
always in the orchard or in some tree near a human 
