WOOD THRUSH. 
115 
lum. 568, As it abounds in all the neighbourhood of Phila- 
delphia, you may, perhaps, by patience and perseverance (of 
which much will be requisite) get a sight, if not a possession 
“ of it. I have for twenty years interested the young sportsmen 
of my neighbourhood to shoot me one; but as yet without 
“ success.” 
It may seem strange that neither Sloane,'* Catesby, Edwards 
nor Buffon, all of whom are said to have described this bird, 
should say any thing of its melody ; or rather, assert that it had 
only a single cry or scream. This I cannot account for in any 
other way than by supposing, what I think highly probable, 
that this bird has never been figured or described by any of the 
above authors. 
Catesby has, indeed, represented a bird, which he calls Tur- 
dus minimus.)^ but it is difficult to discover, either from the fig- 
ure or description, what particular species is meant; or whether 
it be really intended for the Wood Thrush we are now describ- 
ing. It resembles, he says, the English Thrush; but is less, never 
sings; has only a single note, and abides all the year in Carolina. 
It must be confessed that, except the first circumstance, there 
are few features of the Wood Thrush in this description. I 
have myself searched the woods of Carolina and Georgia, in 
winter, for this bird, in vain, nor do I believe that it ever win- 
ters in these states. If Mr. Catesby found his bird mute during 
spring and summer, it was not the Wood Thrush; otherwise he 
must have changed his very nature. But Mr. Edwards has also 
described and delineated the Little Thrush, J and has referred 
to Catesby as having drawn and engraved it before. Now this 
Thrush of Edwards I know to be really a different species; one 
not resident in Pennsylvania, but passing to the north in May, 
and returning the same way in October, and may be distinguish- 
ed from the true Song Thrush ( Turdus melodus) by the spots 
being much broader, brown, and not descending below the 
breast. It is also an inch shorter, with the cheeks of a bright 
tawny colour. Mr. William Bartram, who transmitted this bird, 
* Hist. Jam. ii, 305. f Catesby, Nat. Hist. Car. i, 31. J Edwards, 296. 
