or ROULROUL. See a large rat-like wild mouse of the genus of which two species dwell in the forests of the southern half of the United States. The body is eight or nine inches long, and the tail nearly as long. The form resembles that of the white-footed mouse (Mterotai.r), the animal being more slender and squirrel-like than are the true or house rats. from which this may always be distinguished by his hairy tail, softer fur and much larger ears. The best known species is the All wood-rat (N. tennsylvanica), which colored above, sprinkled with black hairs, which lightens to yellowish on the flanks and becomes pure white on the abdomen and feet. Consult Goldman, E. A., 'Revision of the Wood Rats of the Genus Neotoma' (in United States Bureau of Biological Survey, 'North American Fauna, No. 31,' Washington, D. C., 1910), and Stone and Cram, 'American Animals' (New York 1902).
the wood-thrush (q.v.).
or the most familiar of North American spotted thrushes (Ifylochichla mustelina), famous for the rich four-parted melody of its spring song. It is numerous in warm weather throughout the Eastern States and Canada, inhabiting the wild spaces as well as confidently approaching the house and roadside. Its nest is often built in a village shade-tree, or even in a garden hush, hut more frequently among the forking twigs of an apple tree; and it is to be distinguished from that of the robin by the absence of mud and the presence of many dead leaves, which always form the principal part of its founda tion. The eggs are deep blue, smaller and less
greenish than those of the robin. It soon b. comes unsuspicious of the persons whom it is accustomed to see about the place and who do not disturb it, hut is jealous of the attention of other birds, and defends its home with admir able vigor and success. The song, which heard most frequently and pleasingly toward sunset, is excelled by that of none of the more familiar Eastern birds either in musical quality or in sentiment. It is low, sweet, evenly modu lated and flute-like, yet has far-carrying power, and when heard at twilight across the fields, or from unseen recesses of the orchard, it brings to the mind a hymn chanted in praise of the serenity of the summer evening This thrush is bright cinnamon above, brightcq on the hem': below white, with large rounded black spots forming lines down in front a book-name for the small and beautiful American birds of the family Alsiotillide (see %Vmatt-rat); but the name is without special significance, as these birds arc not more characteristic of woodland than of other places; nor than other warblers.