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Range (Eastern North America breeds) (XXXXXVIII)

Eastern North America; breeds from northern Illinois and Pennsylvania to Manitoba and Newfoundland, and southward along the Alleghanies to North Carolina; winters in Central America. Washington, common 'T. V., Apl. 26 to May 28; Aug. 20 to Sept. 30. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 29 to Sept. 5. Cambridge, very common S. R., May 10 to Sept. 8.

Nest, of strips of bark, rootlets, and leaves, wrapped with leaves and lined with rootlets, on or near the ground. Eggs, three to five, greenish blue, of the same shade as those of the Wood Thrush, 88 x 65.

The Veery's home is in low, wet, rather densely undergrown woodlands. He is a shyer, more retiring bird than the Wood Thrush; he lives nearer the ground and is less likely to leave the cover of his haunts. For this reason, even in localities where both are equally common, the Wood Thrush is more frequently observed. The Veery's usual call-note is a clearly whistled whèeu, which can be closely imitated; his song is a weird, ringing monotone of blended alto and soprano tones. Neither notes nor letters can tell one of its peculiar quality; it has neither break nor pause, and seems to emanate from no one place. If you can imagine the syllables vee-r-r-hu re- THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. peated eight or nine times around a series of intertwining circles, the description may enable you to recognize the Veery's song. The Veery has a double personality, or he may repeat the notes of some less vocally developed ancestor, for on occasions he gives utterance to an entirely uncharacteristic series of cacking notes, and even mounts high in the tree to sing a hesitating medley of the same unmusical cacks, broken whistled calls, and attempted trills. Fortunately, this performance is comparatively uncommon, and to most of us the Veery is known only by his own strange, unearthly song. His notes touch chords which no other bird's song reaches. The Water- Thrush is inspiring, the Wood and Hermit Thrushes "serenely exalt the spirit," but the Veery appeals to even higher feelings; all the wondrous mysteries of the woods find a voice in his song; he thrills us with emotions we can not express. 756a. T. f. salicicolus (Ridgw.). WILLOW THRUSH.-Similar to the preceding, but with the upper parts slightly darker.