bird neighbors-第20章

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ful　and　elegant；　even　a　wriggling　beetle　is　eaten　as　daintily　as　caviare　at　the　king's　table。　It　is　only　when　its　confidence　in　you　is　abused；　and　you　pass　too　near　the　nest；　that　might　easily　be　mistaken　for　a　robin's；　just　above　your　head　in　a　sapling；　that　the　wood　thrush　so　far　forgets　itself　as　to　become　excited。　Pit；　pit；　pit；　sharply　reiterated；　is　called　out　at　you　with　a　strident　quality　in　the　tone　that　is　painful　evidence　of　the　fearful　anxiety　your　presence　gives　this　gentle　bird。

Too　many　guardians　of　nests；　whether　out　of　excessive　happiness　or　excessive　stupidity；　have　a　dangerous　habit　of　singing　very　near　them。　Not　so　the　wood　thrush。　〃Come　to　me；〃　as　the　opening　notes　of　its　flute…like　song　have　been　freely　translated；　invites　the　intruder　far　away　from　where　the　blue　eggs　lie　　cradled　in　ambush。　　is　as　good　a　rendering　into　syllables　of　the　luscious　song　as　could　very　well　be　made。　Pure；　liquid；　rich；　and　luscious；　it　rings　out　from　the　trees　on　the　summer　air　and　penetrates　our　home　like　〃Uoli…a…e…o…li…noli…nol…aeolee…lee！　strait　of　music　from　a　stringed　quartette。


HERMIT　THRUSH　（Turdus　aonalaschkae　pallasii）　Thrush　family

Called　also：　SWAMP　ANGEL；　LITTLE　THRUSH

Length　　　7。25　to　7。5　inches。　About　one…fourth　smaller　than　the　　　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　olive…brown；　reddening　near　the　　　tail；　which　is　pale　rufous；　quite　distinct　from　the　color　of　　　the　back。　Throat；　sides　of　neck；　and　breast　pale　buff。　Feathers　　　of　throat　and　neck　finished　with　dark　arrow…points　at　tip；　　　feathers　of　the　breast　have　larger　rounded　spots。　Sides　　　brownish　gray。　Underneath　white。　A　yellow　ring　around　the　eye。　　　Smallest　of　the　thrushes。　Range　　Eastern　parts　of　North　America。　Most　common　in　the　　　United　States　to　the　plains。　Winters　from　southern　Illinois　and　　　New　Jersey　to　Gulf。　Migrations　　April。　November。　Summer　resident。

The　first　thrush　to　come　and　the　last　to　go；　nevertheless　the　hermit　is　little　seen　throughout　its　long　visit　north。　It　may　loiter　awhile　in　the　shrubby　roadsides；　in　the　garden　or　the　parks　in　the　spring　before　it　begins　the　serious　business　of　life　in　a　nest　of　moss；　coarse　grass；　and　pine…needles　placed　on　the　ground　in　the　depths　of　the　forest；　but　by　the　middle　of　May　its　presence　in　the　neighborhood　of　our　homes　becomes　only　a　memory。　Although　one　never　hears　it　at　its　best　during　the　migrations；　how　one　loves　to　recall　the　serene；　ethereal　evening　hymn！　〃The　finest　sound　in　Nature；〃　John　Burroughs　calls　it。　〃It　is　not　a　proud；　gorgeous　strain　like　the　tanager's　or　the　grosbeak's；〃　he　says；　〃it　suggests　no　passion　or　emotion　　nothing　personal；　but　seems　to　be　the　voice　of　that　calm；　sweet　solemnity　one　attains　to　in　his　best　moments。　It　realizes　a　peace　and　a　deep；　solemn　joy　that　only　the　finest　souls　may　know。〃

Beyond　the　question　of　even　the　hypercritical；　the　hermit　thrush　has　a　more　exquisitely　beautiful　voice　than　any　other　American　bird；　and　only　the　nightingale's　of　Europe　can　be　compared　with　it。　It　is　the　one　theme　that　exhausts　all　the　ornithologists'　musical　adjectives　in　a　vain　attempt　to　convey　in　words　any　idea　of　it　to　one　who　has　never　heard　it；　for　the　quality　of　the　song　is　as　elusive　as　the　bird　itself。　But　why　should　the　poets　be　so　silent？　Why　has　it　not　called　forth　such　verse　as　the　English　poets　have　lavished　upon　the　nightingale？　Undoubtedly　because　it　lifts　up　its　heavenly　voice　in　the　solitude　of　the　forest。　whereas　the　nightingales；　singing　in　loud　choruses　in　the　moonlight　under　the　poet's　very　window；　cannot　but　impress　his　waking　thoughts　and　even　his　dreams　with　their　melody。

Since　the　severe　storm　and　cold　in　the　Gulf　States　a　few　winters　ago；　where　vast　numbers　of　hermit　thrushes　died　from　cold　and　starvation；　this　bird　has　been　very　rare　in　haunts　where　it　used　to　be　abundant。　The　other　thrushes　escaped　because　they　spend　the　winter　farther　south。


ALICE'S　THRUSH　（Turdus　alicia）　Thrush　family

Called　also：　GRAY…CHEEKED　THRUSH；　＇now　separated　into　two　　　species：　the　more　mid…western　GRAY…CHEEKED　THRUSH　and　the　New　　　England　and　Adirondack　BICKNELL'S　THRUSH；　AOU　1998＇

Length　　7。5　to　8　inches。　About　the　size　of　the　bluebird。　Male　and　Female　　　Upper　parts　uniform　olive…brown。　Eye…ring　　　whitish。　Cheeks　gray；　sides　dull　grayish　white。　Sides　of　the　　　throat　and　breast　pale　cream…buff；　speckled　with　arrow…shaped　　　points　on　throat　and　with　half…round　dark…brown　marks　below。　Range　　North　America；　from　Labrador　and　Alaska　to　Central　　　America。　Migrations　　Late　April　or　May。　October。　Chiefly　seen　in　　　migrations；　except　at　northern　parts　of　its　range。

One　looks　for　a　prettier　bird　than　this　least　attractive　of　all　the　thrushes　in　one　that　bears　such　a　suggestive　name。　Like　the　olive…backed　thrush；　from　which　it　is　almost　impossible　to　tell　it　when　both　are　alive　and　hopping　about　the　shrubbery；　its　plumage　above　is　a　dull　olive…brown　that　is　more　protective　than　pleasing。

Just　as　Wilson　hopelessly　confused　the　olive…backed　thrush　with　the　hermit；　so　has　Alice's　thrush　been　confounded　by　later　writers　with　the　olive…backed；　from　which　it　differs　chiefly　in　being　a　trifle　larger；　in　having　gray　cheeks　instead　of　buff；　and　in　possessing　a　few　faint　streaks　on　the　throat。　Where　it　goes　to　make　a　home　for　its　greenish…blue　speckled　eggs　in　some　low　bush　at　the　northern　end　of　its　range；　it　bursts　into　song；　but　except　in　the　nesting　grounds　its　voice　is　never　heard。　Mr。　Bradford　Torrey；　who　heard　it　singing　in　the　White　Mountains；　describes　the　song　as　like　the　thrush's　in　quality；　but　differently　accented：　〃Wee…o…wee…o…tit…ti…wee…o！〃

In　New　England　and　New　York　this　thrush　is　most　often　seen　during　its　autumn　migrations。　As　it　starts　up　and　perches　upon　a　low　branch　before　you；　it　appears　to　have　longer　legs　and　a　broader；　squarer　tail　than　its　congeners。


OLIVE…BACKED　THRUSH　（Turdus　ustulatus　swainsonii）　Thrush　family

Called　also：　SWAINSON'S　THRUSH　＇AOU　1998＇

Length　　7　to　7。50　inches。　About　one…fourth　smaller　than　the　　　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　olive…brown。　Whole　throat　and　　　breast　yellow…buff；　shading　to　ashy　on　sides　and　to　white　　　underneath。　Buff　ring　around　eye。　Dark　streaks　on　sides　of　　　throat　（none　on　centre）；　and　larger；　more　spot…like　marks　on　　　breast。　Range　　North　America　to　Rockies；　a　few　stragglers　on　Pacific　　　slope。　Northward　to　arctic　countries。　Migrations　　April。　October。　Summer　resident　in　Canada。　Chiefly　　　a　migrant　in　United　States。

Mr。　Parkhurst　tells　of　finding　this　〃the　commonest　bird　in　the　Park　（Central　Park；　New　York）；　not　even　excepting　the　robin；〃　during　the　last　week　of　May　on　a　certain　year；　but　usually；　it　must　be　owned；　we　have　to　be　on　the　lookout　to　find　it；　or　it　will　pass　unnoticed　in　the　great　companies　of　more　conspicuous　birds　travelling　at　the　same　time。　White…throated　sparrows　often　keep　it　company　on　the　long　journeys　northward；　and　they　may　frequently　be　seen　together；　hopping　sociably　about　the　garden；　the　thrush　calling　out　a　rather　harsh　note　　puk！　puk！　　　quite　different　from　the　liquid；　mellow　calls　of　the　other　thrushes；　to　resent　either　the　sparrows'　bad　manners　or　the　inquisitiveness　of　a　human　disturber　of　its　peace。　But　this　gregarious　habit　and　neighborly　visit　end　even　before　acquaintance　fairly　begins；　and　the　thrushes　are　off　for　their　nesting　grounds　in　the　pine　woods　of　New　England　or　Labrador　if　they　are　travelling　up　the　east　coast；　or　to　Alaska；　British　Columbia；　or　Manitoba　if　west　of　the　Mississippi。　There　they　stay　all　summer；　often　travelling　southward　with　the　sparrows　in　the　autumn；　as　in　the　spring。　

Why　they　should　prefer　coniferous　trees；　unless　to　utilize　the　needles　for　a　nest；　is　not　understood。　Low　trees　and　bushes　are　favorite　building　sites　with　them　as　with　others　of　the　family；　though　these　thrushes　disdain　a　mud　lining　to　their　nests。　Those　who　have　heard　the　olive…backed　thrush　singing　an　even…song　to　its　brooding　mate　compare　it　with　the　veery's；　but　it　has　a　break　in　it　and　is　less　simple　and　pleasing　than　the　latter's。


LOUISIANA　WATER　THRUSH　（Seiurus　motacilla）　Wood　Warbler　family

Length　　6　to　6。28　inches。　Just　a　trifle　smaller　than　the　　　English　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Grayish　olive…brown　upper　parts；　with　　　conspicuous　white　line　over　the　eye　and　reaching　almost　to　the　　　nape。　Underneath　white；　tinged　with　pale　buff。　Throat　and　line　　　through　the　middle；　plain。　Other　parts　streaked　with　very　dark　　　brown；　rather　faintly　on　the　breast；　giving　them　the　speckled　　　breast　of　the　thrushes。　Heavy；　dark　bill。　Range　　United　States；　westward　to　the　plains；　northward　to　　　southern　New　England。　Winters　in　the　tropics。　Migrations　　Late　April。　October。　Summer　resident。

This　bird；　that　so　delighted　Audubon　with　its　high…trilled　song　as　he　tramped　with　indefatigable　zeal　through　the　hammocks　of　the　Gulf　States；　seems　to　be　almost　the　counterpart　of　the　Northern　water　thrush；　just　as　the　loggerhead　is　the　Southern　counterpart　of　the　Northern　shrike。　Very　many　Eastern　birds　have　their　duplicates　in　Western　species；　as　we　all　know；　and　it　is　most　interesting　to　trace　the　slight　external　variations　that　different　climates　and　diet　have　produced　on　the　same　bird；　and　thus　differentiated　the　species。　In　winter　the　Northern　water　thrush　visits　the　cradle　of　its　kind；　the　swamps　of　Louisiana　and　Florida；　and；　no　doubt；　by　daily　contact　with　its　congeners　there；　keeps　close　to　their　cherished　traditions；　from　which　it　never　deviates　farther　than　Nature　compels；　though　it　penetrate　to　the　arctic　regions　during　its　summer　journeys。

With　a　more　southerly　range；　the　Louisiana　water　thrush　does　not　venture　beyond　the　White　Mountains　and　to　the　shores　of　the　Great　Lakes　in　summer；　but　even　at　the　North　the　same　woods　often　contain　both　birds；　and　there　is　opportunity　to　note　just　how　much　they　differ。　The　Southern　bird　is　slightly　the　larger；　possibly　an　inch；　it　is　more　gray；　and　it　lacks　a　few　of　the　streaks；　notably　on　the　throat；　that　plentifully　speckle　its　Northern　counterpart；　but　the　habits　of　both　of　these　birds　appear　to　be　identical。　Only　for　a　few　days　in　the　spring　or　autumn　migrations　do　they　pass　near　enough　to　our　homes　for　us　to　study　them；　and　then　we　must　ever　be　on　the　alert　to　steal　a　glance　at　them　through　the　opera…glasses；　for　birds　more　shy　than　they　do　not　visit　the　garden　shrubbery　at　any　season。　Only　let　them　suspect　they　are　being　stared　at；　and　they　are　under　cover　in　a　twinkling。

Where　mountain　streams　dash　through　tracts　of　mossy；　spongy　ground　that　is　carpeted　with　fern　and　moss；　and　overgrown　with　impenetrable　thickets　of　underbrush　and　tangles　of　creepers　　such　a　place　is　the　favorite　resort　of　both　the　water　thrushes。　With　a　rubber　boot　missing；　clothes　torn；　and　temper　by　no　means　unruffled；　you　finally　stand　over　the　Louisiana　thrush's　nest　in　the　roots　of　an　upturned　tree　immediately　over　the　water；　or　else　in　a　mossy　root…belaced　bank　above　a　purling　stream。　A　liquid…trilled　warble；　wild　and　sweet；　breaks　the　stillness；　and；　like　Audubon；　you　feel　amply　rewarded　for　your　pains　though　you　may　not　be　prepared　to　agree　with　him　in　thinking　the　song　the　equal　of　the　European　nightingale's。


NORTHERN　WATER　THRUSH　（Seiurus　noveboracensis）　Wood　Warbler　family

Called　also：　NEW　YORK　WATER　THRUSH；　AQUATIC　WOOD