This is a shy and solitary bird, but a charming songster, frequenting the most lonely and secluded portions of our forests. They are never seen but in pairs or singly, and oftener heard than seen. The male is generally discovered on the top of some high tree in the morning, or towards the evening, where he pours forth his few but very sweet notes, making the woods echo with his melody. I have not yet had an opportunity of testing the singing properties of this bird in a cage, as I have not been able to procure one alive, or a nest, although I have offered a high premium for either. The first I ever saw, and which I wished to obtain, as a specimen for preservation, gave me a pursuit of more than two hours through the woods before I obtained it. It resembles the European Song Thrush more than any other of our Thrushes, but it is much smaller in size.

Food

We have never had the pleasure of feeding this bird in a cage, but we hope soon to have;* there is no doubt but it can be fed like other Thrushes.

Characteristics Of The Sexes

In the whole genus of Thrushes, the male and female bear a strong resemblance one to another; in this species it is so close that we are unable to give any distinguishing marks either in size or plumage.

Location

Found throughout the United States. Many of them winter in the Southern States. Not abundant.

There are two or three more Thrushes found within the territory of the United States, but they have little or no song, with the exception of the Water Thrush (of Wilson), which is said to sing sweetly; some of them winter in the Southern States. Here they are very rare. They breed in the Fur countries, and are smaller in size than the Song Thrush.

* We hope that some of our young friends in the country, who see this, will endeavor to find a nest of this bird; directions for raising the young of which and other birds, they will find in this volume.