Evening star., 1949-05-09
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdce1pell

Every year in late April this column re-
solves to write no more of the wood thrush.
Like the robin, 1t has been written about
enough.
But when that first song strikes through
the big oaks in the dewy morning. all resolu-
tions are forgotten. and properly.
For what more welcome bird?
Whose song Is lovelier. either In early
morning or at dusk?
Whose clean. bright presence is happier?
What bird better to have around?
Here is friendly one
He arrived this season on April Is, three
days earlier than usual.
There is a small grove Of oaks, of to the
east, and into this he flies.
Then. at dawn. he opens up with that
quartet of notes. each phrase liquid, loud
and musical.
Not every bird song Is truly musical. Some
have more good will In their singing than
real musical quality.
One can forgive the little wren his some
what harsh cascade of notes. pouring over
each other, one after another.
Sometimes he reminds one of a tea pot
about to boil.
The wood thrush, Official bird of the Dis
trict of Columbia. never hesitates in his
singing.
He must know deep in the heart of Mary
land that he is a musician, else why the pride
in his work?
That he is real musician is shown by the
way he incorporates harsh sounds between
the simple phrases. Only real musician
would dare.
Ordinary music makers, human or bird,
- txo sk~ao ell hA irna
They would never. never think of anything
so Grass land effectivel as putting q few
grating sounds right after and before the
liquid notes.
The wood thrush. he of the brown back
and spotted chest. is q musician by divine
right He knows that the other tones viii
sound the sweeter for bit Of dissonance
sAs
Though there is no relation. the wood
thrush and the brown thrasher look very
much alike. except that the thrasher is
larger Sometimes he Is called the big
thrush" but he is no thrush.
The wood thrush, on the other wing. is
all thrush. His cousin. the hermit thrush.
comes to nearby Maryland and Virginia, but
lis seldom seen. and not often heard.
Far more plentiful is the wood thrush.
formerly creature of the forests. but In
recent years more q resident Of towns and
suburbs.
The wood thrush is calm, unafraid set
ting a good example, In this respect. to
some skittish humans.
The wood thrush Is one of our cleanest
Of birds
This Is brought about not only by his
neat arrangement of colors and patterns
but even more by the immaculate state In
which he keeps himself. While most birds.
1t must be admitted. give this effect. the
wood thrush has 1t to what might be termed
a super degree. He Is careful in his ways.
not being afraid of man or dog. and seldom
hurrying even for cat Yet he is not often
caught His children seldom fall out of
nest. robin and blue jay babies are more
likely TOD
The thrush nest is usually in thickets. or
as close approximation as the birds can find
in weIl manicured small gardens. about s
TO IL feet from the ground: it Is made OF
leaves and grasses. cemented with mud. with
some evident attempt at decoration BY the
inclusion Of bits Of paper and rag: the lining
Is of fine roots and grasses. The eggs are
plain green blue. Usually three or four are
summer.
This is one of the most useful birds We
have. His beauty fine manners and loveiy
song. so endearine to all. are matched By
his need Of insects. most Of them ininicai
10 man. The fact that In some sections he
is called wood robin or swamp robin shows
his relationship TO cur common robin Young
of the robin show the relationship by their
spotted breasts In most bird books the
robin comes sandwicned I'm between the her
NIT thrush and the varied thrush.