Page:Birdcraft-1897.djvu/168

 SONG—BIRDS. Warblers

This Thrush, which, until comparatively lately, has been considered out of its range in New England, is a fairly com- mon summer resident all through this section and as far north in the state as Saybrook. It diifers chieﬂy from the Water Thrush in its superior size and heavier bill and the buff colouring of its lower parts; but its principal point of identiﬁcation at long range is the greater richness and mel- ody of its song.

The past summer, in late June, a male of this species spent an entire morning in a secluded part of the garden, in some bushes near the pool. It was after the breeding— season (unless this individual was either belated or about to raise a second brood), but the song retained all of its spring volubility. The song ﬁrst attracted me, and, after crawling cautiously through the tall grass, I discovered the singer.

e was perching near by, in the lower branches of a scrubby arbor-vitae. He did not sing continuously, but, after waiting a few minutes, took up his refrain. Droop« ing his wings, he threw back his head, his smooth throat swelling with pent-up music.

)1 a few minutes, he went down to the pool, took a few sips of water, and amused himself by running over the thick water-lily leaves, at the same time snatching insects from their edges. He next took a vigorous bath, sprinkling the water about with great force, and then retired into a clethra bush to plume himself. This completed, he sang once more, and he seemed to have a joyous yet serious message to im- part, rather than a ﬂood of gossip.

In the swamp in secluded recesses A shy and hidden bird is warbling a. song.

a I! Is I l- ‘-

Sing on I sing on, you gray-brown bird 1 Sing from the swamps, the recesses, pour

Your chant from the bushes. 0 liquid and free and tender 1 0 wild and loose to my soul 1

0 wondrous singer l

—Wn.r anrm. 109