349 
Wilson’s thrush, or veery. 
WILSON’S THRUSH, or VEERY. 
( Turdus Wilsonii , Bonap. T. mustelinus , Wilson (not of Gmel.), 
y. p. 98. pi. 43. fig. 3. Little Thrush, Lath. Synops. iii. p. 20. 
(not of Pennant, &c.) Phil. Museum, No. 5570.) 
Sp. Charact. — Tawny-brown ; beneath whitish, with dusky spots 
on the throat, which is inclined to tawny yellow ; tail short, 
nearly even, the feathers pointed ; bill short. 
This common northern species arrives in Pennsylva- 
nia and New England about the beginning of May. How 
far they extend their northern migration is uncertain, 
though probably to Labrador. They appear to retire to 
the south early in October, and are more decidedly in- 
sectivorous than any other native species. According to 
Wilson, many winter in the myrtle swamps of South 
Carolina. I have not, however, seen them in the South- 
ern States at that season, and most part of the species 
pass on probably as far as the coast of the Mexican 
Gulf. They do not, according to Wilson, breed in the 
lower parts of Pennsylvania, though undoubtedly in the 
mountainous districts, where they are seen as late as the 
20th of May. They propagate and are very common in 
Massachusetts. 
In its retiring habits and love of concealment this 
Thrush resembles the preceding. They frequent the 
dark and shady borders of small brooks and woods, and 
sometimes the bushy and retired parts of the garden ; 
from whence, without being often seen, in the morning, 
and particularly the evening, to the very approach of 
night, we often hear the singular, quaint, and musical 
note of this querulous species, at short intervals, as he 
perches upon some low branch of a tree or bush. This 
curious whistling note sounds like ’velm ’ v’rehu ’ v’rehu 
’ v’rehu , and sometimes ’ ved ved ’ vrehd ’vrehd vehu , run- 
ning up the notes till they become shrill and quick at 
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