Lake Umbagog* 
ster, also. It is undeniable that his best notes do not equal the S 
i . - 
^ Ury ^- /3 ’ best that the Hermit can produce, but unlike the Hermit he never at- 
tempts what he is not certain of achieving, and he utters no notes 
which are not musical# Hence his song, as a whole, la? tp my e$rs, 
yf/VtjtxjlijLj 
the more finished and flawless of the two* Moreover, there is much 
less difference in individual merit amon# different individuals ©f 
Swainson*s Thrush than those of the Hermit* Very many Hermits are de¬ 
cidedly inferior performers, and some are almost trying to listen to* 
a 
Scarce more than one bird out of an average dozen is A wholly satisfac¬ 
tory musician but he, of course, is worth going far to hear* Swainson'v? 
Thrushes, on the other hand, sing so nearly alike that it is difficult 
to distinguish <kne from another, and all are delightful and impressive 
vocalists* Two males regularly answer one another across the placid 
waters of our little cove at morning and evening, and more or less 
often throughout the day* Their rich contralto voices fill me with 
delight, they are so perfectly controlled and midulated and so full of 
^ dignity and calm* When the only Veery in the cove Joins in the con¬ 
cert, his voice sounds thin and trifling by comparison* On the whole 
I am inclined to conclude that while the very best songs of the Hermit^ 
are undeniably much more beautiful and thrilling than anything that 
5<c 
