ush
family."

"Well, he is, even if he is dressed quite differently from the rest of
us," replied Melody.

"You mentioned your cousin, Hermit. I don't believe I know him," said
Peter.

"Then it's high time you got acquainted with him," replied Melody
promptly. "He is rather fond of being by himself and that is why he is
called the Hermit Thrush. He is smaller than I and his coat is not such
a bright brown. His tail is brighter than his coat. He has a waistcoat
spotted very much like mine. Some folks consider him the most beautiful
singer of the Thrush family. I'm glad you like my song, but you must
hear Hermit sing. I really think there is no song so beautiful in all
the Green Forest."

"Does he build a nest like yours?" asked Peter.

"No," replied Melody. "He builds his nest on the ground, and he doesn't
use any mud. Now if you'll excuse me, Peter, I must get my breakfast and
give Mrs. Wood Thrush a chance to get hers."

So Peter continued on his way to the dear Old Briar-patch and there
he spent the day. As evening approached he decided to go back to hear
Melody sing again. Just as he drew near the Green Forest he heard from
the direction of the Laughing Brook a song that caused him to change his
mind and sent him hurrying in that direction. It was a very different
song from that of Melody the Wood Thrush, yet, if he had never heard
it before, Peter would have known that such a song could come from no
throat except that of a member of the Thrush family. As he drew near
the Laughing Brook the beautiful notes seemed to ring through the Green
Forest like a bell. As Melody's song had filled Peter with a feeling of
peace, so this song stirred in him a feeling of the wonderful mystery of
life. There was in it the very spirit of the Green Forest.

It didn't take Peter long to find the singer. It was Veery, who has been
named Wilson's Thrush; and by some folks is known as the Tawny Thrush.

At the sound of the patter of Peter's feet the song stopped abruptly and
he was greeted with a whistled "Wheeu! wheeu!" Then, seeing that it was
no one of whom he need be afraid, Veery came out from under some ferns
to greet Peter. He was smaller than Melody the Wood Thrush, being about
one-fourth smaller than Welcome Robin. He wore a brown coat but it was
not as bright as that of his cousin, Melody. His breast was somewhat
faintly spotted with brown, and below he was white. His sides were
grayish-white and not spotted like the s