108 
TURDUS MELODUS. 
but in the evening' the same melody is renewed, and 
continued long after sunset. Those who visit our 
woods, or ride out into the country at these hours, 
during the months of May and June, will he at no loss 
to recognize, from the above description, this pleasing 
musician. 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. 
The favourite haunts of the wood thrush 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, in a laurel or alder bush. Outwardly 
it is composed of withered beech leaves of the preceding 
year, laid at bottom in considerable quantities, no doubt 
to prevent damp and moisture from ascending through, 
being generally built in low, wet situations ,* above these 
are layers of knotty stalks of withered grass, mixed 
with mud, and smoothly plastered, above which is laid* 
a slight lining of fine black fibrous roots of plants. The 
eggs are four, sometimes five, of a uniform light blue, 
without any spots. 
The wood thrush appears always singly or in pairs, 
and is of a shy, retired, unobtrusive disposition. With 
the modesty of true merit, he charms you with his 
song, but is content, and even solicitous, to be con- 
cealed. He delights to trace the irregular windings 
of the brook, where, by the luxuriance of foliage, the 
sun is completely shut out, or only plays in a few 
interrupted beams on the glittering surface of the 
water. He is also fond of a particular species of lichen 
which grows in such situations, and which, towards the 
fall, I have uniformly found in their stomachs; berries, 
however, of various kinds, are his principal food, as 
well as beetles and caterpillars. The feathers on the 
hind head are longer than is usual with birds which 
{lave no crest ; these he sometimes erects ; but this 
