28 
NATURK STUDY. 
The first note is a low, soft whistle, which cannot be 
heard unless one is quite near the singer. The notes of 
the broken chords melt into each other in such a way that 
here also the effect of sustained harmony is produced. 
Another singer, older or more gifted, gave the song with 
a wider sweep and greater elaboration, like this : 
To my sincere regret I have been unable this season to 
hear the song of the Hermit Thrush except at such a great 
distance as to miss all but the principal tones. Neverthe¬ 
less I will endeavor to recall it from memory as I heard it 
two years ago. It will be observed that the curve of his 
song winds upward, instead of downward like that of the 
Veery. It is also delivered with greater deliberation. 
Two years ago I heard for the first time the song of the 
Olive-backed Thrush. A pair remained on our grounds 
from May 25 to June 2, and the male sang frequently. 
This year the Olive backs were very numerous and sang 
freely from May 28 to June 3. The song is in form much 
like the first part of the Hermit’s, but is different in qual¬ 
ity from that as well as from the songs of the Veery and 
Wood Thrush. It possesses a beautiful vibrating quality, 
sweet and penetrating, which pervades every tone and im¬ 
parts a rare musical “color’ ’ which cannot be well described. 
