Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-10-27
WHOLE NO. l55.

known in this country. II is of The same
family. and so much resembles the ground
thrush. or what is commonly called here
the red thrasher, as TO be very frequently
mistaken for that bird; but lis music is
| very dissimilar, and the hours Of perform
ance also vary. The back, top of the
head, and upper parts Of the wings are Of
a dark reddish brown: the breast ap>
preaching white with dark spots, as in
the ground thrush or red ,hrasher-but
the wood thrush, or wood robin is every
! way smaller bird.
Quitting the similarity Of appearance.
if we turn TO the haunis and habits Of the
two birds. these also do not materially w.
ry. 10th build their nests on bushes
generally in some thick copse or cluster
near small stream. and are saciive and
skilful in making their way. almost un.
seen. through them. near TO the ground.
In their food also, which consists Of in.
sects and berries. they are still the same.
But the wood robin-for that name pleases
us best selects The upper branches ofa
high tree for the pouring out of his sweet
music. He is restless and fanciful, and
often changes his perch from tree 10 tree;
and here he differs from the groaad thrush
who generally occupies the top of a bush
or tree of medium size for his perforfhans
ces. The wood robin commences with
The unlacing Of the east, while the waning
moon still casts her shadow. He halls
the coming day with his ma,in song,
which consists Of only three changes
first, something like The hanging bird
then rich MARBLE, resembling the Ger
man flute in till; then changing 10 the
note resembling in some respects the red-
winged black bird. but falling With ca
dence, that leaves the anxious listener
with sort Of suppressed breathing to
catch the dying fall The rich and PEE
culiar fulness Of the hnte note or change.
has, in the opinion Of the admirers Of :hs
wood robin, no equal among the fea.hered
tribe. Here the ground thrush is unlike
him-:or his song is in far more varied
numbers and changes, and justly places
him along with the -, bird. as one Of the
bes. singers; but ia never 50 enchsias
the ear with attention as-tse l06llp.
The red ,hrasher delights; the wood robin
absorbs us. The latter may have some
advantage, from the time Of his singing
over the former; as he commences a, carr
" dawn and continues in the early par
of The day; he is not always. but most
frequently, silent at noon; and after ahe
sun falls. he follows the parting day with
his rich tones until twilight has faded from
the west
This breathing Of music in the still,
solemn evening, attracts attention and IN
presses his merits ON the memory. The
ground thrush OF red ,hrasller is neither
so early or SO late songs.er,4 but gives
out his mocking-bird chorus at the time
when other birds are generally chanting.
and every goose is cackling; hence The
performance may lose its due credit, from
no. being SO favorably timed. The wood
robin, is rather rare bird with us in New
England, and appears TO prefer the eli
mate Of Pennsylvania. Maryland, and Nir-
ginia, where pair may be found in al
most every little forest surrounded BY cnl-
tivation. Here, MANY, even in the coun>
try, have never particularly noticed this
bird confounding him with the other all
ready mentioned; but in those States far
Their south. the ground thrush is rare ex.
cept during the seasons Of migration lin
spring 10 the north. and in the fall, to the
south and hence the wood robin. who
remains there during the summer, is .
noticed and noted lasori.e.
The plumage Of our birds generally SUR
passes in beauty and brighi coloring. those
Of Europe. Not less is the superiority of
their music. Those Of our country
who lave been ACCUSTOMED TO hear our
knocking birds, our .hrushes, AID a1hon-
sand more, and have read the Englisln
writer's, in prose and verse, upon their
nightingales, &c, are in wonder, when
they visit England, at the inferiority Of
their singing birds. Even those OF tho
same kinds, common 10 both, seem TO iu1-
bibe superior gaie.y and cheerfulness 10
our sunny, transparent atmosphere.
Climate has its influence upon man;
whv no, on birds! In clear skies, genial
sunshine. and loftier scenery. the mind
and body improve upon darkness. fog.
and contraction. Our birds have become
greater fayoriles than formerly; and if We
will notice their excellencies, they will.
l trust, become sill more 90. They are
our companions in our 6elds-.heir mu>
sic makes rs ilappier-and. feeding most
" on the insecls that injure our fruit and
grain, We may well spare what little they
may est. for the pleasure and profit they
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