26 
WOOD THRUSH. 
individuals of the human species, or as one singer does from 
another. The powers of song, in some individuals of the 
wood thrush, have often surprised and delighted me. Of these 
I remember one, many years ago, whose notes I could instantly 
recognize on entering the woods, and with whom I had been, 
as it were, acquainted from his first arrival. The top of a 
large white oak that overhung part of the glen, was usually 
the favourite pinnacle from whence he poured the sweetest 
melody ; to which I had frequently listened till night began 
to gather in the woods, and the fire-flies to sparkle among the 
branches. But, alas ! in the pathetic language of the poet — 
One morn I miss’d him on the accustom’d hill. 
Along the vale, and on his favourite tree — 
Another came, nor yet beside the rill, 
Nor up the glen, nor in the wood was he. 
A few days afterwards, passing along the edge of the rocks, I 
found fragments of the wings and broken feathers of a wood 
thrush killed by the hawk, which I contemplated with un- 
feigned regret, and not without a determination to retaliate on 
the first of these murderers I could meet with. 
That I may not seem singular in my estimation of this 
bird, I shall subjoin an extract of a letter from a distinguished 
American gentleman, to whom I had sent some drawings, and 
wdiose name, were I at liberty to give it, would do honour to 
my humble performance, and render any farther observations 
on the subject from me unnecessary. 
C£ As you are curious in birds, there is one well worthy 
your attention, to be found, or rather heard, in every part of 
America, and yet scarcely ever to be seen. It is in all the 
forests from spring to fall, and never but on the tops of the 
tallest trees, from which it perpetually serenades us with some 
of the sweetest notes, and as clear as those of the nightingale, 
I have followed it for miles, without ever but once getting a 
good view of it. It is of the size and make of the mocking 
bird, lightly thrush coloured on the back, and a grayish white 
