Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-08

OF the Hcrmit-thrush and the deep sea-Steen
Of the Cat-birds
The Hermit Thrush (T; Pallasii cab.
frequents the deepest solitudes OF the
forest, and there breeds, far from the works
and hauns of men. So much of recluse
is he that IN Maine he goes by the name
of "Swamp- Robin" and in the Adirondack
region they call him the "Swamp Angel" In
point of melody the Hermit has few equals
in the chorus of the birds.
The Wood.thrush Ct. MuStelnus, Gm.),
another bird of the wilderness, is his peer in
song, but if found at all in this State, occurs
only as a rare visitant, his range being more
to the South. The nest and eggs OF the
Hermit are scarcely disiinguishablc from
those of the Vccry, the eggs in both species
being normally unmarked.
The OIive.Backed thrush a. swnin-
sonN,
rising in the dry, retired woodlands, has the
appearance of young robin at distance,
but nearer view soon, dispclls this
imaginary resemblance. All the upper parts
are uniformly olive. The golden yellow
the throat gives us hint of the rich quality
of his voice. While the Hermit IS generally
met with in swampv woods this bird pre-.
fcrs the dry, scrubby parts of the forest,
and builds hcad-high from the ground, the
female laying a grecnish-bluc egg freely
specified with brown.
These four New England thrushes may he
readily distinguished by the color oil the
upper parts alone. "lhe Wood-thrusn Is
td,cny, turning to olive on the fump' Inc
Hermit is oHUe, turning to tawny on the
rump. The olive-backed is entirely oHre.
The Veery is intirely ta,cny."
The Mocising-bird !Iimus polygiott"s
Boic).
The true home of the mocking-brd is in
the South, but it is occasionally met with
in neither New England, and has been known
to breed in Massachusetts. 1t undoubtedly
visits this State at irregular intervals, coming
like the comet and departing with the same
Inconsistency.
| once met with single bird in central
New Hampshire. lie was pouring forth a
gushing torrent of song from the top OF an
ancient appletree in an out-of-the-way dis
trict, and have no doubt every member oil
the feathercd tribe within hearing was mutely
wondering who this strange singer and
skilled parodist might be.
Maj 3d. For several days the low
broodlng clouds have kept up electric com.
munication with the earth, drenching field
and wood. Now the barriers are burned
away, and the sun shines with renewed
energy The heavy laden air is fragrant
with the breath of the wood-ilowers, the
aroma of the bark and exudations of the
trees, and the succulent newly-born vegeta-
ton The young leaves of the red naples
foreshadow the autumn and Indian Summer.
Here where the foot-high stalks of the
sarsaparila unfold their nut-brown leaves TO
the sun, bird rises springing out OF the
ground apparently. 1t is the
oyen.bIrd tsiurus arricap illus, SwJ
He allights on the carpet Of leaves again
and walks about as hen would do, nodding
his head and moving with rapid, gliding
motion, a trim looking bird somewhat
larger than chipping sparrow: Above, rich
olive bel ow, white, spangled with brown ana
a narrow band Of orange upon the crown,
whence his name, golden-crowned thrush.
lie is generally considered however, as nc
thrush at all, bot aoarJler, although in
habits and other characters he agrees well
with that family. Seeing nothing to fear, he
takes stand upon low bough and delivers
his favorite chant rich, rich, richr, RIcH'R,
RICHER, beginning in low, distant tones,
which become louder and nearer as they
proceed with accelerating force, awaking the
echoes of the wood.
But your knowledge of the bird is incom.
plete until you have heard his real song, his
| lore song, which he reserves for particular
occasions. Mounting the air with easy steps,
he rises above the tops of the tallcst trees,
and hanging there suspended a few moments
in lowering flight, be bursts into a rich mel
ody Of song and dashcs down again to the
cover Of the wood.
Passing down the south side of a run" in
the woods, one day in June, bird OF this
species rose from under foot, and slyly
hobbled over the leaves, trailing her wings
and affecting general dishabaille. The
nest from, which she vainly sought to attrac,
attention was placed securely under stub,
and arched with pine needles and Other
material, a habit of architecture which sug-
gesed its name. This contained four white,
speciled eggs with one of the lazy cow
birds, This fellow must have good eye to
detect a retreat so well hidden, but expect
as he is not in business for himself he sta.
| tons guard here and n watch there, and
when bird is seen leaving her house, the
| news is soon spread abroad.
The following list will show the arrival OF
further species of migratory birds at Bur.
lington.