Hastern Massachusetts, Serolurs yoeetdieleaethy, Bti= lyon form 1659 Mag 17 I$¥9 / is: ARS, as ee 145 I$ 70. Jurn ers (1899) Jak. 3. jig: Ise We News . doxt) 1640 7e_ SPR 92* Oreretsdl /G 93. BELG? SER HOG Mb Sl ek AVGR /2% RN teh tir saad) 74. NS) 254-5) iris lresand /6 28. 2 nee STU 1844 Yih roca bey S74 ne tee (SIS, hE 13% 1S 1844, ewas Wi ie te WE ne ae ae bGouenrecl. aara 27. 28 %-30E/FF3. See fa 02 11s 125. [be 404. 216 £3, 15% Joe Cred IGQ (i Ia Cosfe: Fact vi Ar al andar ce ne” teh notte Fore) [696 NV bey, Nev Is 7 det) ree ~ Len aa ire oe [§4o Discet (ay 19 i ihicen t Bbc Mie eri BER lk MT a YT nore eaes Ache on dina hige (oe ee ony Zon Urollrr wren Lor eyes /«96 | Fis fos Corrdrvilye = AbeH Un trestle prom Wer, Porm edeeomty 7 frmt rnd Protas oleate bnpcy fratly on Ovfes Fe nw we FR peas praverde (Utmedt, on Ua Tar Men The wevetiin tk Joy Om beter J, The wtn rien Tr Conn 1 OMfind. y Mak bed Sale, oft On oTetehelina’ flew, Me honed. J dy me trewth hewiz Yo om brow Hired Arseny Oe ce seem Mi ceca oy ca ne es ey Pe ceed oe | Masterton’. C1. 2. Won Oraineils 7 WE. Fragtacte Ammnt Hat ue Grome. bnT eaten Ui, On Ta mrrinn ty loca Tinggi. tatlen Cece. “tier Thar Gls pha aed hb thes Ua co 7 obey CryManr fry ober Yan Pon enpha Wad cota den, Lo wer me fered be crite Bs AGR WY Connne Vert fly woe” [19 Trsrny (len ov, 16 187] Turdus mustelinus,. I8sg2,. Mass. July I6,Concord,- Twilight was falling when I heard Wood Thrushes sing- Wlood~ rm (No.4) ing and.one of the Wood Thrushes sang for fourteen minutes, afte Thrushes. Whippoorwill began. The last song of the Wood Thrush at precisely 8.0I when it was nearly cark. July 20.Concord.- The concert of Wood Thrushes was simply the finest that I ever listened to. There were three of them close about me at one time and they fairly made the woods ring. With this with the Hermit there is much individual variation in quality of voice and variety and ease of execution and as it happened all three of the birds in Clark's woods this evening were particularly good performers while one was preeminently fine, On the other hand a bird singing inthe hemlocks on the opposite (eastern) side of the adjoining swamp had a voice so effectually"veiled" that I was actually unaware of his presence until I came nearly under the tree in which he was sitting, In- dee the odd medley of low, wheezy gasps, catarrhal squeaks and clucks, and thin, feeble whistles, not one note of which was either musical or pleasing, was wholly inaudible at a distance hol 4 cade d, of fifty yards. It was @ sotto voce singing. On the contrary the poor bird was evidently exerting himself to the utmost as if striving to outdo his rivals in the woods across the swamp. Was certain he conscious of the lamentable failure or, ruc” Phone singers equally devoid of musical ability, did he delude himself with the Turdus mustelinus. I8ge. Mass. | July 20.Concord.- belief that he was really producing melodious sounds? (NO,I- tt occurred to me that possibly he might be deaf and like deaf 2-&43-) mutes of our own species incapable alike of appreciating or cor- Thrushes, reeting the painful discords of his voice. Certainly the case was one of the most extreme of its kind that has ever come under my notice, Clark's woods evidently form about the centre of distribution of a colony of Wood Thrushes larger than I have hitherto found in any part of Middlesex County. I heard in all are to-night no less than seven singers and there to my certain knowledge nearly as'many more to the east of the Estabrook road. Indeed I have little doubt that upwards of twenty could be heard within this region in a single evening by a rapid walker who was familiar with the ground, July 20Concord.- The air was cool and there was no wind. I could hear Wood Wood Thrushes in every direction and now and then a Tanager or Thrushes. Cat bird.All these species were singing at 7.45 when the first Whippoorwill began and one of the Wood Thrushes continued just twelve minutes later closing the concert of Gay birds at 7.57. July 21.Concord.-In Clarke's woods the concert of Wood Thrushes was even finer than last night's for on this occasion there were four birds singing at once. There was also a Tanager in full song but nothing else. The singing season is evidently fast drawing to a close, Turdus mustelinus. Isg3. Mass, July 21.Concord.- In the hemlocks across the brook the Thrush with the Wood "veiled" voice was again striving to make the most of his "one BEhrushes talent", In all we heard before reaching the road just nine Wood Thrushes,. July 25.Conecord.- I had begun to fear that the Wood Thrushes were going to disappoint me when (at 7.30) the two which, up to this time had beeh apparently merely rehearsing, burst suddenly into full song. In a moment others took up the strain until five were singing at once. My companion, inexperienced in suen matters, insisted that there were at least a dozen, a delusion natural enough under the circumstances for these birds, as is their habit at such times, kept flitting.» restlessly from place to pbhace so that in the course of a moment or two their motes cid actually come from at least a dozen different points. The effect was impressive beyond my powers of description, I have heard nothing to equal it before even in these woods for not only were the singers more numerous this evening than on previous occasions but at the height of the concert they literally had the whole field to themselves not a single note of any other % species of bird being heard for the space of ten minutes or more. July 30.Concord.- As we neared the crest of the ridge some of the higher Turdus mustelinus, Is92. Mass. July'60.Concord.- notes of the Wood Thrush became audible. but there #098. proved to be only one of these birds singing in the valley below Samshes - when we reached it at 7.86 and sat down under the hemlocks on the edge of the swamp, Later two othere joined in and before 7.350 a fourth one but, was afar off @nd none of them sang steadily or with spirit. bd 5 Asner Letize. (4e lozedl 110 A WEA ODL FLEE LEA, ae tise pa fpepart ere belied zee ae ioe a fece zetpretdtig Levi L Lhiticle yf fll Zi ftp. J trawe cet Lbapol! ae Be LOPCCOED (fitzee Cos c Coe. Bos Crt Ah. hevile PAVL te luts. fea oo. ee Le ais cae aud totic twAthie fete joptebaze wlohe, Jlac bell lle Sie Somer as! ae vigoee nom Arwcitll ge Libte pattie Asijes sleet ete iy tt. ZsL04, JE AtEEL Lt 0 re Bed Zettel ptt 2 chi Be feet rey BOODILS a sa ata os tO jwise & ddltugiis gp ate g0¢¢: © ett <1 tt. UL 3a G2 ge goer gape Git, feel ae x Leeictia. a VWarat Liutele gee We Wire es | es teteeae peed. fe q j, ¢ af t. dt. f ty ta Gait. 7 €§ € & Air oh A A, at. tyr Concord, Mass. ee - ‘ May, 1898. “te yy es y ae e | A a fn ba, Ahern tran Oferg fo loed a Vwauq f we - ite F ‘ i ; ‘ & aan hist trun Aral. A Ae Fe oe ; Fo fed df v ¥e a Pace juad, sade loArwat, A ; watt ay bras ‘i MWiA« Gane le /, “yf | - Ios tn dof etn Fwy Aa 12 $4a+-~ a bea Pays me ' Atchte % Ha . DreMhen. * of “fy-—4 d 7 fan, Aro. a iy f ed Goncord, Mass. Bawckd aued Wee treverhele, , ; a Prenat Ben wthly al meee etd om Md OTe read Ad enn Kom Wf. fiom Ten tat hd Ma and gk ote iee Wi. wmafotn Aen—-A, vier J han beard Th, tant Thanh eengeig Tin Sprng, Mo stda «ane OT & - eed” tone Fe tienes Hylocichla mustelina Jefferson Highlands, N.H. z : iw Dy fees ape PE Aa G ae Si al Ds + Rod. vy soda gai AE. —_ PS) Fe ended ; oO eel a Hylocichla mustelina ‘ < | Cary wwort= mt BBS oes le Ms rarbeg~ Liars aa Noa rap aR ones CRS yrs prt Crh Sr o ‘thera tae Sa +a cma Ge AS | ike Highland N.H Gini-geele ae musteli vy) Cle: ON toate / / J Jefferson 0 g © wa 3 eo & o be | oO 2) el Hylocichla mustelina / —z aif : @ eS =e ee oe iF cca pene wae © x AG rately OS hi Ghee | Bre |. i cer ua Ag = al th Re SO Soriakin’s waore fr 7h ey vr" Damm “i Str G05. soll ihe ‘ ( 2 ae saree ‘ee a et sr hehe The a OL oo - Mee tek Gels fine, a nar mfp ail = (ote Bas op Hylocichla mustelina Jefferson Highlands, N.H. bth re Pelee a. hr. | ae OE GE ah ae ae hs saat = woln & ee aes Deve — Co Shae ey fT he lose ~notate— ea de pe NRF dtodd ma ie fra She. ral aoe i te dade ia \ aS F Pee SR Be (if | K2- i eee rnc cea (pe Sy ae ge EEC Mee wy a Ser ee: pal, mM EY ng GS i \ ase fe ae ee ee ple nr, IRS Gate Cope. de Some ML. pk es oe Che Gok Hylocichla mustelina Jefferson Highlands, N.H. A anes 7 ‘is i. oa Co Rie Bal. oes Se he Bo. Coa Rew te On Ch es i. ih Os, Fey s iin gas an ees i ap ode eit res: ~y Sh ak Mont ae 4d > Pree, ees fe oe Cs fh, OP ve i“ panes a oe: ae as Py So Pei * aout 4 elias To cy 2 aa Gite Manel = \ if hy. Wy, F wr frm oly mn Mrrt Auk of : cles nm Me. RNAS N9G he frm Bak Ba Die eas | eench te, Cran “ Seeuuy y ea Biocas | dee ie si hie P frome fr A Re OT ew ) Hire baa fl belle wan (Barca ree | ya Caf ale. oe bvtelece- ie Feutl atal> Pye | furdus mustelinus. Peterborough, New Hampshire. 1898. One in mixed spruce and hemlock woods on the shores of July 5 Cunningham Pond, Aug.2nad. It acted as if it had young fol- ae lowing us about and uttering the sharp challenge ery inces- santly.. Nevertheless it may have been a migrant for I visited the place many times afterward without finding the bird again: hig a Asner dne my en ee ee eas) Bee 2 fhe tera WaASS. fe) Ings Ing Morning ana evening a WT, A ane 4 tA ani bee we Peralta Cicik Sian! Hoist cena za ek ean, = 1e Wood Thrush heard this morning near the cabin had a aa + Waneric at eon cic. yi ere ee | he Ta a, en - oe ITO northwara as far as Davis's Hill where he.was singing song’) of inferior P-an-hour or more very near Ob the bird Nearad on the LTA2th put-.e h-voiced si 3 rr ty par. dd. : (WA 1 Lom Bur, KA / YDO-19°7, Te. 46, 284. Hylocichla mustelina. Woop Turusu.— Regular migrant, May 4 to 20; I can find only one fall record, a female taken September 7, 1891; rare summer resident, breeds (May 4, 1890; June 3, 1894; June 22, 1895). The Wood Thrush in Maine.—On September 6, 1884, I shot a young male Wood Thrush (Zurdus mustelinus) at Saco, Maine. This is, I believe, the first recorded instance of its capture along the coast north of Massachusetts, and the only one for Maine.—JosEpH L. GoopaLr, Cam- bridge, Mass. Auk, 2, April, 1885, p. 2/5. D 240, : / ; x ae, Alri. lao € Ps ee, 5 ‘The Wood Thrush in Maine.—On September 6, 1884, I shot a young male Wood Thrush (Turdus mustilinus) at Saco, Maine. This is, 1 believe, the first recorded instance of its capture along the coast north of Massachusetts, and the only one for Maine.—JosrrH L. GoopaLe, Cam= bridge, Mass. (aA ark, lf. ($ yx) 1085. Maine Birds. By Everett Smith. /b¢d., p. 248.--Note on Turdus mustelinus. : La elec sboro Co. N.H. June 27,’92 Binde of Amoskeag, N. He Arthur M. Farmer, | Wood Thrush, very common. At times the only sign of bird life we would have would be the song of this species. 0.& O Vol17, Sept.1892 p.1386 | Thrush, April 14, — ‘ First Arrivals.C. O. Tracy. Taftsville, Vt, 0.&0. VI11. Sept.1882. p.7 ‘Wood Phrush, siehla meustelin birds, | May 10th } ood Thrush, (Hylocichla mustelina,) two ; LY ] | Hales ty tw he part eae frm . 0.&@0. &, Jan. 1885. p, /0- —- = 80. Hylocichla mustelina. Woop Turusu.— In 1899, I heard the song and alarm note of this species several times, in the damp maple woods at the base. Once I saw the bird near enough to recognize it, but did not secure it. I think there were at least two pairs nesting there that- year, but in 1900 I could find no trace of them, nor have they been observed in Stowe Valley by Mrs. Straw, so they are probably irregular in their occurrence there. !'That their occurrence in northern Vermont is not unusual is evidenced by a record from Willoughby Lake, by F. H, Allen (St. Johnsbury, ‘ Caledonian,’ Sept. 11, 1896; quoted by Faxon and Hoffman in ‘Birds of Berkshire Co; Mass.,’ p. 10). The Wood Thrush in N ewbury, Vermont. — N: ewbury, Orange County, Vermont, is on the west bank of the Connecticut River, Newbury village being about 5 miles south of Wells River, which also is a part of the town of Newbury. From the meadows along the river, the land rises to a high bluff on which the village is situated, then still higher to the top of Mt. Pulaski, which is nearly a thousand feet above the sea. The house where I am spending the summer is among a growth of tall pines, spruces, oaks, birches, etc., at the foot of Pulaski slope. Before 7 a. m. July 4, 1910, many birds were singing about the house, among them the Hermit and Wilson’s Thrush and White-throated Sparrow, when to my surprise I heard the Wood Thrush, which I had never heard in Vermont before. He sang four times; a day or so later, I saw a Wood Thrush.— Anna E. Cons, Providence, R. I. AaGk 27.Oct+1910 p. ¥&/ Wood Thrush at Newbury, Vt.—I have spent my summers since 1905, from June to October, in the town of Newbury, Vt., on the Con- necticut River, five miles south of Wells River, and twenty summers previous at Lake Willoughby, Vt. Before 1910 I had never identified a Wood Thrush at Newbury, though the Wilson and Hermit Thrushes were quite common. During the summer of 1910 two Wood Thrushes were identified in the same part of the town where the other thrushes were found. This year, 1911, there is a noticeable increase of Wood Thrushes. I have seen them in both localities and should say they were from 6 to 8 birds singing where last year only two were identified. In the late afternoon, of July 1 there was a fine concert by the Wood, Wilson, and Hermit Thrushes in one locality, with a specially fine per- formance by the Wood Thrush— Anna E. Coss, Newbury, Vt. Auk 28.0ot-100 w LPP bed ut hn wi (Jure ET Pe ROT? NEE Pe en ae ee SE as ee tae RE Oe Ma buf wad guicliia more EE oe I “lh Bh po fotk borg wn poe orchard Bees MASS. ( Middlesex Co.) | Aen Es LOD | Mass. (near Concord). _ 1887, _ Meg 632 93 MF 1b% 24 £65 Tuas 4% July % ¥% ; Mass. (near Cambridge). 1887 167 ee UL eh oT. dhe 4 KM Meswrba ned. nes a, Ae Pe ee, ee ee ne, See te Eifassdiars wilt Kobus - a ae VEC OOy LY )T, Birds of Bristol County, Mass. F. W, Andros. Turdus mustelinus Gmel., Wood Thrush. Summer Resident, common. Breeds. 0.&0O. XIL Sept, 1 G3 63> A4 Soy P.14i LEE Novel Jide S. W. Denton. WO 2S” frown Bel to# eZ 2 Reais | 4 Bds, Obs. near Graylock Mt. Berkshire Co. Mass. June 28-Julyl6. W,Faxon 74. Turdus mustelinus. Woop Turusu.—Common at lower levels and extending high up in the beech forest at the headof the Hopper. Also found sparingly at other points on the mountains. Noted on the Graylock carriage road near the three-mile board, altitude, 2400 feet (2). Auk, V1. April, 1889. p.106 Bas, Obs. near Sheffield, Berkshire Oy, Mass. June 17-26, ‘88. W. axon 72. Turdus mustelinus. Woop TurusH.—Common. Auk, VI. Jam., 1889.p.46 . 3) ay 2) : ; ; Hees (AN ~t Oe Anan. eee Oy Kerhrbtirs. ie ne Th anpae aes : Hylocichla mustelina. One pair found about the meadow in the Hoosac Swamp in Williamstown among some alders, and others were heard singing on the side of Mt. Greylock at 2800 feet elevation. a) Melo WH Ms€, [7 ong Lan yaaa Auk, XIX, Oct., 1902, Pp. wT. Wid - Co. Mass. be aa Tur ebrs ved Chive June 25-50, 1889. Lik ie eu pa a Vy. LE ORSESNE drat ee . ra V4 ahareem. Lat, Porte ue dal enue { Van POM aed; : y . ; : ™ of ha. eUoo-r ole Brn. hinnrrp « Ore ede ig Se tug. ee ee dus peri e 7 7 7 wf f. oF om, oF Fic. bt bth Xe Tidy Cos e aa eae Metts — June (6 H. Mass. 1885. ; Ie Ti vee A. Brincet No, Bujland, Mags. une, iv-1g6p, el. AD, % ao lee sae Me ie hecr. We Kone, Sep; 21, /24, IEA ee Ur c a - 4 A ie an dh VA Arrivals of Mig’y Birds, Central Park, N.Y. City. Spring-1886, A. G. Paine, Jr, | May 5, Turdus mustelin us, (755). Wood Thrush, 0.&0, XI, July.1886.p.i09 : = (Bend Ve ns NAAR Wu : ee Obi a Ned ih gene Cy Ge], GYinkg Ji gor). Se se Se be Wood mora Tolerably common. Descriptions of First Plumage of Cer- tain North Am, Bbs. Wm. Brewater, 1, Turdus mustelinus. First plumage: female. Generally similar to adult, but with the feathers of crown streaked centrally with buff ; “‘rusty-yellow triangular spots at the ends of the wing-coverts and a decided brownish-yellow wash on the breast.” From a specimen in my collection, shot by Mr. W. D. Scott at Coalburgh, West Virginia, July 25,1872. This bird is perhaps a little past the first stage of plumage, most of the feathers of the upper parts being those of the autumnal dress. ; Bull, N.O.0, 3, Jan.,1878.p, /7.- General Notea, Melanism in a Caged Wood Thrush. — A “melan in &> exposed portion of the feathers of the breast, flanks, under wing-coverts, and crissum are black with narrow tips or borders of tawny which on the breast are reduced to the minimum. The bird-dealer from whom Mr. Brown purchased this specimen told him it was one of a nest of four he procured in June, 1891, and the follow- ing December or January they all changed to the same color as the example just described. There are a number of recorded instances of black Robins,* but so far as I am aware melanism has not before been noticed in the Wood Thrush.— Frank M. Cuapman, American Museum of Natural FHlistory, New York City. *Deane, Bull. N..O% C21, 1876; p., 245, ‘Cones, ibid: Dil ne78, po. 48) Barrows, | | Auk, I, 1884, p. 90; Il, 1885, p. 303; Faxon, ibid., III, 1886, p. 284. Auk 9 ,July, 1892. »p.3038-4. The Singing of Birds, H, P. Bicknell, Turdus mustelinus. Woop Turusu. This most admirable song-bird is in voice from its arrival, in late April or early May, until about the middle of August. But towards the end of July singing becomes less universal with members of the species, and soon after has come to be inconstant and confined to the earlier and later hours of the day. Songs are usually to be heard through the first week of August, and sometimes for a week later (August 6-15), when singing some- what abruptly ceases, seven or eight weeks before the final depart- uré of the species.* After the cessation of singing these Thrushes become shy and inactive, affecting the most retired parts of the woods, and only the careful observer will discover that they have not disappeared. Even their call-notes almost have been discontinued, and when heard are so low in tone and so brief as almost to seem as if accidentally uttered. Before their departure, however, though they do not again sing, voice is partially regained ; and in October, even so late as the middle, or rarely last of the month, their call- notes may sometimes be heard uttered with the same vehemence as in the spring. The suspension of song by this bird during two months preced- ing its departure can be accounted for, accarding to the probabili- ties earlier adduced, by physiological activities antagonistic to song operating during that time. In late August adults are covered with growing feathers and without fat. In mid-Septem- ber some, at least, show a nearly perfected plumage, with areas of fat beginning to accumulate; and individuals may be found almost a month later with the renewal of plumage still incom- plete; such, perhaps, are birds of the year. It would appear from these facts that the impulse to song is first interrupted by the moult, and further suppressed by the supervening adipose condition. Awk, I, April, 1884. p. /29-/27. *An exceptionally late date for song is August 23, 1883. On that day I for some minutes listened to the singing of a Wood Thrush which was ofa very unusual charac- ter. Though all the notes of the normal song were given, they were so faintly uttered and separated by such distinct pauses, as to make it seem probable that they resulted’ from the first trial of a young bird. June 8th I found a nest of the Wilson Thrush containing one egg with a very thin shell. I took it, and left in its place the ege that still remained in the nest found June 5th, that nest having been de- serted after I took the two eggs. I visited this new nest nearly every day for four weeks and saw the female bird on the nest every time, but found no more eggs. I saw but one bird in all this time, and at last I found the nest empty and deserted. fence at some distance in front of me. I | saw at once that it was a new species to me, and my first impulse was “ to shoot it on the spot,” but noticing it to be feeding | | upon passing insects and not likely to fly | far away very soon, I decided to watch its movements for a time before attempting to | secure it. It would sit upon a twig for | only a few moments, jerking its tail in a | very nervous manner and uttering a sad, querulous note which suggested the idea | that it must be a bird lost from its fellows, || stopping now and then in its lamentations to dart out excitedly and seize some pass- ing insect. After watching it some time I secured it, and to my delight I found I had a specimen of the Black-crested Flycatcher —that strange bird of which Dr. Coues writes so interestingly in his “Birds of the Colorado Valley,” and in connection with which he speaks so touchingly of one of the common, yet sorrowful, occurrences of border life. It is not strange that the or three inches of the ground, sometimes attached to a stub or brier, and occasion- ally in high grass near a cart-path. They were constructed of dead leaves (princi- pally beech leaves) and grape-vine bark. The eggs were “light-blue, green-tinted,” and about the size of the Bluebird’s ego's. F f > eat. “e 0.&0. V11. Nov. 1882. p./%0 -19/ 428, Thrushes. [By Chas. Edw. Prior.] Jézd., p. 170, 171.—Nesting {9 @& To! of Wilson’s and Wood Thrushes. ble VIL | Hon. prt HY. Clark , Stay rovh, Cee The Brown Thrasher, the Wood ‘Uhrush, and the Blue Jay all draw from the same unknown | source the lining for their nests, certainly not for its softness, though such a bed might be | comfortable and airy in a hot day, yet I believe | they always use the same material regardless of season or weather, , | I; oo Hylocichla mustelina (Gmel.) Baird. Have found it along the borders of Brown’s Tract, in eastern Lewis Co., but only stragglers occur heré at all. Curious Set of Eggs of the Wood Thrush. A very singular set of eggs of the Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelinad) may be thus de- scribed : No. 1 measures 1.13x.84, and is of the normal color. No. 2 is 1.09x.88, and is also of the usual color. No. 3 is .87x.62, and is of the same color as the two preceding eggs. No. 4 is .88x.62 and is of a peculiar drab green- ish color. They were found at Milton, Mass., on June 26, 1883, and the parent bird was seen. It will | be noticed that the first two eggs are larger than | the usual size for this bird, (which is from 1.00x .75 to 1.08x.70,) while the other two are “‘runts.” The greenish-drab one is different in color from any eggs of this species that the present writer has scen. O,& O, XI,May,1S96.p. 67 pire) Aah Woop Turusx. May 27, I found a nest — sa X of the Wood Thrush, (//ylocichla muste- S dina,) containing six eggs, three of them "Cowbird'’s. The nest was perhaps four ee from the ground in a little stub of a tree, and only a few rods from where I haye found a nest of the same species for two years preceding. I approached to within a few feet of the bird before she flew, and eyed her for some minutes with much satisfaction. After leaving the nest she flew at me fiercely, and her cry of “whit-a whit” was so loud and animated as her wings fanned my face, that it will long remain fresh in my memory. I have never found any bird so brave in the defense of its nest as the Wood Thrush, and I know of no bird that can more forcibly express its indignation at an intrusion. ‘JOA Past sny XI ‘OR’O Vela HM, Chanda. San book, ave; There is a sort of uniformity about most spe- cies in the numbers of completed sets, and va- riation is an exception, and in view of my last five year’s experience I should consider five or even four in a Kingbird’s nest an exception in- stead of usual. A completed set of Wood Thrush, (Hylocichla mustelina) is sure to num- ber four, yet I once found five, and probably as often three would prevail. In the case of the Catbird, (Galeoscoptes carolinensis) how uni- _ |does four complete her set. An excess ly once been presented to me, when on | May the 17th last, I found a nest containing _five; and three eggs is as equally rare. O <0. Xi. OF. 1667. 17H a Birds of the Adiro ndack Regiou: O. H, Merriam, Woop THrusH. — Rare. It breeds-about Lake George (Dr. _,_ A. K. Fisher): Ball N 0.6, 6 Oct 1881. bP. 226 ids Tioga Co, N.Y, Aiten Loring, | 1, Wood Thrush. Common. Found in the woods and underbrush. Perched on some tree or bush the male pours forth his beautiful } notes which make the woods ring. The nest of this species is placed in a small bush or on the ground, and is composcd of dried grass and pine needles loosely put together, but quite bulky. The eggs, four in number, are of a light blue color and usually measure 7-8 in. by 5-8 in. ) ©, 80, ZV. Jane, 1890, p-6i Birds Breeding in District of Columbia. C.W.Richmond. 98. Turdus mustelinus. Woop Turusa.—Common. Regarding the material composing the nest, Dr. Coues says: ‘As is well known, the nest of this species is saddled on the bough of a bush, shrub, or low tree, and has mud in its composition” (‘Birds of the Northwest,’ p.2). In ‘Avifauna Columbiana,’ p. 34, he contradicts this statement, and speaks as follows: The nest, placed in a bush or sapling, differs from that of the Robin in having no mud in its composition.” As far tk yriter’s experience I as the writer’s experience goes, and it accords with that of other collectors here, the nest of the Wood Thrush does contain cous¢derable mud. The number of eggs found in a nest is usually four, and the nest is placed in a small sapling or tree, | from four to twenty feet from the ground. Auk, V. Jan, 1888, p.25 Pn ele evel Poruchte nat wlan - } we Gord, 24%. 9. Wamucele ie Or. Vii, Jul. 1$%3.pr- /s. : | 194. Turdus mustelinus (Gmel.). Wood % 'Thrush. Summer resident; common. Ar- ‘vives last week in April. Nidifieates by the ; third week in May; eggs, three to five, De- Woop Turusu.—Is not four an unusu- parts the last of October. ally large set of Wood Thrush? During the past season I have found in all thirty- ; Birds of Chester County, Penn. e Gyrus B. 2essel, Ercildoun, Pa. O.& 0, XIV, Sept. 1889 p.1350 seven nests, and do not remember to have observed more than three, either eggs or young birds, in any nest. Also, what is the | farthest Southern limit that the Wilson’s Thrush breeds? I have not been able to In the summer of last year I found a nest which I have never been able to iden- tify, as no bird was near. It was in New Castle Co., Del., and was placed in the cen- tre of a clump of hazel bushes, growing in O find any nest in Chester County as yet.—ap W. & McDermond, West Chester, Pa. @ a swamp, so that I had to wade at least fifty yards before reaching it. It resem- bled a Wood Thrush’s’nest, being built of /mud, but was an inch deeper than any nest of that kind I ever saw. The diame- | ter was about the same. It was placed | about two feet above the water and con- tained four eggs, much like a runt Cat- bird’s egg, and of a dark blue color, with a slight greenish cast. The latter is hardly distinguishable when placed beside a Cat- | bird’s egg. Now can any reader of O. and O. tell me what bird it belongs to? It was not a case of a Catbird laying in an old \nest, for I had been through that same The Number of Eggs in a Set. © BY F. L. BURNS, BERWYN, PENN. Having read from time to time in the O. AND O, the opinion of many collectors on this sub- ject, I venture to give my limited experience in this line. J commenced collecting in 1885, and for a time was ‘‘cheated” out of many sets, es- pecially of our most common birds, by waiting | for the female to lay the number of eggs ‘“‘bird doctors” stated they did lay. In the mean time | the eggs would hatch, or be so hard set as to be worthless. Many young collectors com- plain of this, and now some take the eggs as soon as found, complete set or not, claiming that this is the only sure way. For instance, the Wood ‘Thrush, (Zylocichla mustelina) lays three more often than four eggs, and I have yet to find a set of five; and yet most writers claim the usual set to be four or five eggs. Of forty eggs and young of this species found by me the past season, I find to be divid- ed in sets as follows: thicket several times before, and would have seen it. If any one can cite an in- stance of a Oatbird building a mud nest, that may solve the question, and the slight differences in size, shape and color might be passed over as accidental. 0.&0, Vill, Nov.1883.p. $7-** thot 2. Gibsrrn. Ramrre, Porrriiy brarere’ * In all eggs incubation had commenced, in| many cases advanced. The first set was taken May 30th, the last set July 4th, but the majority were taken during the first week in June. O &O. XII, Oot. 1887 p. /70 Number of Eggs in a Set. BY C.S. BRIMLEY, RALEIGH, N. Cc. Seeing this subject discussed in the August O. AND O. by Mr. Hoxie, I give some experi- ences of my own on the subject, as being pos- sibly of some interest. First, as to the number of eggs varying with the habitat, I find that several species in this locality lay less than the usual number, as fol- lows: Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), usual number four; at least one-third of the incu- bated sets in this locality consist of three only, |and in 1886 I found a complete set of only two (incubated), butin this case the eggs were much larger than usual. Abundant. O nie ©. XI, 07. IGFET. po. (66 - Nesting Dates, 1888, haleigh, N.C, 0.8. Brimley. May 8. Wood Thrush fe ‘ wood. set of 4, 7 feet in dog. | 0,&0O, XIV,Nov.1889 p.165 Wood Thrush. tion, four to five. 30. Standard set, four. WVavria- Per cent of variation about | fe Wood Thrush. Standard set, four; variation, | | three to four, not four to five, as I said in my | previous article. H@es in Se i | = , = ; May 16. Wood Thrush: set of four; nine feeb in hickory, a am © ie.-18) 18. Turdus mustelinus. I found a nest of | this Thrush in Missouri containing one egg of the Cowbird and three of the Thrush within | afew feet of a Vireo’s nest which also con-| tained a Cowbird’s egg. Otho C. Poling. | Quincy, Dlinois. 0,&0, SIV, Sept. 1389 pis4 | “for twenty years, ornithology and oology, much has been said |and written in regard to this favorite bird. |in regard to the material of which its nest The Wood Thrush. 120 From the time that our great statesman i and ex-president, Thomas Jefferson, who ae q a stems of weeds, which are gathered when wet “c A followed this bird for miles without ever Bod heconc. Sallal Aud chem and shetween but once getting a good view of it,’’ and who, these are tracihes of wm.” , - Inte pants aie youn’ Now, in all the years of my careful obser- sportsmen of his neighborhood to shoot him yakons, Uhaveansre been abla hud aaine| ane, "down tes thexpresent ate at ary aed gle nest of the Wood Thrush which contained jany mud except where small patches of it | had adhered to the decayed vegetation used | Saas bean ttn) Spite and dabiis aid ie jin its construction, seemingly more by acci- | Dents oe es rays ieee a cee eG, dent than intention. My correction there- ee i Ls cape a aa 2 ie Nien Ot is this, that the solid part of the Wood hive Gunbask dey regaadl thts “bed ies Thrush’s nest, usually called mud, is com- pie Eee, ere a ue ae posed of very old decayed vegetation and old students of ornithology and oology; and) i MEGS cate Tee: RES psa el any Gib stares, OF poner eet statements to in any way injure Mr. Davie’s valuable works, for I prize them highly, and I rotten wood pulp. iaeomposets Ter are beneht ot fae younser' think it would be proper here to state that stu ts and more especially for som : Pa, a ica wenpprs gees gs ark the | various other publications have made the |same mistake; and if any ornithologist who | seems to differ with me on this subject will '|carefully examine the nest of the Wood : : a hal Thrush, I feel sure that he will agree with me that its nest is “composed of leaves and a : 5. af that no mud is intentionally used in its con- struction. James B, Purdy. Plymouth, Michigan. 0.& 0. Vol.18, Aug.1893 p, 119 older ones, who study more from books than from Nature. Davie, in his second edition of “Nests and Eggs of North American Birds,” grasses, with a layer of mud ;”’ and in his third edition, the same author says: “ On the out- side, it is composed of leaves, grasses, and) Detroit,Mich. 1891 Notes. e 8. HH. 8wales, May 31. Wood Thrush ; set of four fresh eggs. ‘This Thrush is a most exquisite song- ster, particularly in rainy weather, when his clear, ringing notes seem to be far sweeter. O.& O. Vol.18, July.1893 p.100 A. OMecaadt (frre, Fev. 4. re A little further along another nest greeted our eyes. This time it was that of the Wood Thrush (Turdus mustelinus) and contained four fresh eggs. It was built in the crotch of a small sapling about twelve feet from the ground. The spectacle of myself, a firm grasp on the sapling with one hand, the nest in the other, and all the while trying to place it in my wife’s outstretched hands, would, no doubt, have proved quite laughable look, and to us it was all very sober earnest. On again reaching the ground IJ followed the | old bird, who kept constantly flitting from one tree or bush to another, to make sure of my identification, || F 0,&0, XIV, Novy. 1889 p.16@e ‘Woop Turususs, ({ylocichla mustelina.) | The creek timbers all about here are full of them, and the Cow-bird, (Molothrus ater,) seems to find this nest particularly convenient, for almost every other nest has this parasitic egg among the rightful own- er’s, and in some instances two and more. My friend, Dr. Matthews, a great lover of Oology, now in Kansas, and myself found a nest in the Vermillion river timber, near Pontiac, containing three of the Blue Thrushes and three (each differently marked) Cow-bird’s eges. The color, con- trast and the nicety with which they had been placed.in the nest, half to half, was strikingly wonderful. A Ze. MN wand. Notes, Fairburg, tl. 0.&0, Will. Feb.1883.p.7 Notes- Eggs of Thrushes & Thrashers, H.G. Parker. Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). Deep greenish blue eggs, easily distinguished from the Robin’s, which are larger. Four eggs gen- erally constitute a set, though the writer has taken one set of five in which one was a runt. Very often also, only three are laid. This bird is sometimes made the foster parent of the Cow- bird’s young, and two instances are remembered | where the foreign egg was taken with the| Thrushes eggs ina nest. In.one case one egg of the Cowbird and one of the Thrush was found, and in the other three eggs of the Cow- bird and two of the Thrush. Eggs of this species show comparatively lit- tle variation, but some examples are rounded and some of the elongated form; and the dif- fering degrees of intensity of blue are percepti- ble to a close observer. An extra large sized specimen measures 1.11 x.83; but this is quite phenomenal however, as the usual size is about 1.00 x .75. 0,&0, XIL, May.1887 p. 69 Obs. on Summer Birds of Mountain Pors. Pickens Go, 8.C. LL.M. Loomis, 75. Turdus mustelinus. Woop Turusu.—As the mountain region is approached, the Wood Thrush becomes more and more prominent, the cool hollows shaded by large oaks and other deciduous trees affording congenial residence. In the mountains, I found them most numerous from the mid-elevations upwards, but I think the local environment, more than the altitude, occasioned their abundance. So common were they that several performers were often heard at a time in a narrow area — even in the heat of midday. First young shot June 13. Auk, VII. April, 1800. p.130. Western North Carolina Birds, Jack- spon Co, May ‘88, W.&J. Jeffries, May 24 we drove to Franklin; the day was hot but beautifully clear. Zurdus mustelinus, nowhere rare, became abundant as we ascended; several nests were taken on the very edge of the road in plain sight of every passer by. 5 R 27 “ Auk, 6, April, 1889, p19 Summer Birds of Buncombe County, N.Carelina. John S.Cairns. Turdus mustelinus. Wood Thrush. Sum- mer visitor; common. Arrives early in April. Nests usually the 1st or 2d week in May. Range about 5,000 feet up. | O&O. KIV .Feb. 1889 P- Birds of Weeiern North Carolina. William brewster. 99. Turdus mustelinus. Woop TurusH.—Abundant, and generally distributed, ranging from the lowest valleys to at least 4500 feet, on the mountain sides, and breeding everywhere, but most numerously in thick- ets of rhododendrons near streams. ‘Two nests, each containing four fresh eggs, were found at Highlands; one, May 27, ina cornel (Cornus florida) ; the other, May 28, ina rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). Auk, 8, April, 1886. p.178 7 ortedlra, JC, 864. Ufale, ta Tor fril a ruiz Crxk Abi hogfie 60T f ee Sal bao we formed Pet. ee fous pppoe a: . te e vo on Loomis, on South Carolina Birds, : ‘NIGHTINGALE.’—Common, In the neighborhood Rather shy. 51. Turdus mustelinus. Woop THRUSH. but singularly shuns some portions of the locality. of the hotel it was the leading voice in the daily concert. HW Auk, 8, Oct. 1891, p, 738 Summary Obs. on Birds Gulf Coast - Florida. W.E.D,Scoit. Turdus mustelinus. Woop TurusH.—A rather rare spring and fall (?) migrant on the Gulf coast of Florida. I have found them in bine vicinity of Tarpon Springs in early April on two occasions. Mr. Atkins found them rather common at Key West on April 29, 1887, and saw the last ones on May 3, 1888. Auk, VII. April, 1890. p. 19. Birds Observed at Coosada, Alabama N.C, Brown 2. Turdus mustelinus,Gm. Woop Txrusx.— Arrived April 13 in full song. They were never very common, inhabited only swampy thickets and hard-wood groves, and were extremely shy. Bull, N.O.C, 3,0ct.,1878, p,169 3irds of Bayou Sara, La., Observed April 1-23; by C. W,Beckham | However, the Wood Thrush, which is very common, makes an agreeable substitute, coming about the dwellings with the fearless confidence of the Chipping Sparrow, and by his unexpected sociability atoning for the Catbird’s short- comings in this respect. ‘They were first seen on April 4. Auk, 4, Oct, 1887, p,301 ‘ Birds of Houston, Texas, and Vicin- ity - H.Nehbrling 2. Turdus mustelinus, Gmel. Woop TurusH.—Arrives gic the North early in October when the aromatic berries of the Magnolia egrandi- flora are ripe, on which they eagerly feed. On account of this food the flesh is very delicate and large numbers are killed by pot hunters, who call them ‘‘ Grassets.” In the winter months they appear not to be com- mon and inhabit swampy thickets and bottom woods. Bull, N,O,0, 7, Jan, Birds ef Carrell County, Ind. B.W.Evermann. 198. Turdus mustelinus. Woop THurusn.—An abundant and delight- ful summer resident. May 3, 1883; April 28, 1884; April 23, 1885. Full sets of eggs June 17, 1882; May 24, 1883. Auk, VI. Jaa., 18689. 5.29. | spicuous and diligent songsters. | Kans,, First, May 1; Liter, Ill. Grand View, Ia., First, April 28, three seen;., | Jefferson, Wis., First one was seen on May 10, | 2ist, they had settled down to Summer numbers. Mitchell, la., First, May 9; | First, May 6, three singing, @= ’ Woop Turusu, (LHylocichla iustelina,) St. | Louis, Mo. The first seen was on April 19, when two were found at old stands singing a few _ strains, when it began to rain. April 22, two were in full song. April 29, they were still quiet and scarce. May 1, they are exercising every | morning now, and by the 16th had become con- Manhattan,~ First. April 5; and by the 12th there had been a decided increas | and many were heard and six or eight seen; the + bulk of the birds has not yet arrived. May VS marked the height of the migration, and by the egy Minn , Q .Sent.1835.p,/27 A Note on the wea rrily, Opti, 1898, pp so7 3 0, thatZon examining a large series of Wood Thrushes (Turdus mustelinus) taken throughout their range, the majority of specimens from west off the Appalachian Highlands and the St. Lawrence Valley average much smaller in measurements (bill, culmen .56 in. and depth .18, tarsus 1.08, and wing 4.22), than those from east of the Highlands (bill, culmen, 63+ and depth .21-+, tarsus 1.15, and wing 4.31). Typical western birds having been secured not uncommonly in the East, and vice versa, does not allow, however, the establishment of a western subspecies. — REGINALD HEBER Howe, JRr., Longwood, Mass. THE COMMON NAMES OF AMERICAN BIRDS. BY ERNEST INGERSOLL. The Thrush family —here regarded in its broadest sense, for the sake of convenience—does not present a wide range of ver- nacular synonyms except in respect to two or three species. nor are these difficult of explanation. The word Thrush is very old, appearing in substantially the same shape —the w sound having superseded an older y or 6 — in the Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon languages. I believe that the origin of the word was a reference to the throat, or in other words to the singing powers of this family, whose voice is prob- ably their most notable trait ; and this view is strengthened when it is remembered that the old German word drozzd coming from the same root as our English ¢#roat gives drossel in modern German as the word for ‘throat,’ ‘‘throttle,” and also for “thrush.” Under Thrasher I shall adduce a further argument. From the earliest times, then, the Thrushes have been consid- ered preéminently the song-birds of the world. Taking up the list in regular order, the first to present itself is Turdus mustelinus. ts common names are: Wood Thrush, Wood Robin, Swamp Robin, Swamp Angel (Adirondacks), Bogtrot (South Carolina), Alondra del Monte (Mexico). All of these evidently refer to its habitual forest-resort and its Thrush- or Robin-like (for frequently these words are confused) character. The terms Song Thrush and Grive des Bois Flite (Canada) point to the striking music of this bird, the French literally meaning ‘‘the flute-voiced Thrush of the woods.” Referring to the color of the plumage are the book-names Tawny Thrush (Pennant, Latham) and Merle tanné (D’Orbigny). As for Grasset (Texas), I cannot explain it. Bull, N,O.c. 8.Apil 1880. my 72-73. 1789. A Hard Time of It. By A. H. G. /bid., Aug. 8, p- 43.—An item about Zurdus mustelinus. r, Stream, Vol. 3S 608. Der Walddrossel. (Turdus mustelinus Gmelin.— Wood Thrush.) Von H. Nehrling, Sonntagsblatt der N. Y. Staats Zeitung, 20 Jan. 1884. —Biography of the species. 1 38. Facts and Fancies in Organic Life. By B. Horsford, Jbid., Vol. VI, pp. 7, 40. — Chiefly noteworthy as containing (p. 40) an ee to represent the songs of “our Wood Thrushes ” by means of the musical seale, Fam, Sci,& Fano, Jour, 132. Lhe Food-habits of Thrushes. By S. A. Forbes. American En- tomologist, New Ser., I, pp. 12, 13.— Abstract of observations made upon this family, published in detail in Trans. Illinois State Hort. Soc., Vol. XII, 1879, pp. 120-172. = t 1645. The Bird of Solitude. By Olive Thorne Miller. ‘The Atlantic Monthly,’ Vol. LIII, No. 320, June, 1884, PP- 753-758.—A popular account of the characteristics of Turdus mustelinus and T. a. pallasit. Reprinted in ‘Bird Ways,’ Boston, 1885, PP- 13-29. 440. The Wood-thrushes (fLylocich Chamberlain. Zé/d., pp. 185-187. Sportsman and Naturalist,” III, i) la) of New Brunswick. By M. [Also published in the ‘‘Canadian an., 1883, pp. 201-203.) @, &@, Vole Vix gt. The food of our Thrushes. Editorial [G. B. Grinnell]. é¢d., XIV, Pp. 244.—Review and abstract of Prof. S. A. Forbes’s very import: ant paper on this subject in ‘Trans. Ill. State Hort. Soe, Vol) Xl: BS For, & Stream 525. The Wood-thrushes (LLylocichla) of New Brunswick. By M. Chamberlain, St. John, N. B. Zbzd., II, pp. 201-203.—(Previously pub. Flin « Saank @ 211. The Music of Nature. Our Wood Thrushes. By B. Horsford. Tbid., XVII, No. 17, p. 326, May 25, 1882. — Description of the birds and their songs, with an attempt to indicate their notes by use of the musical scale. For, & Stream * 4 lished in the ‘Ornithologist and Odlogist,’ VII, pp. 185-187.) x mI ® 8 “O@aAlI a ORNITHOLOGIST —AND— _OOLOGIST. $1.00 per Annum. JosrraH M. WADE, Editor and Publisher. Established, March, 1875. Single Copy 10 Cents. iiator & eae The Wood-thrushes (Eyloviehta) of New Brunswick. This Province can lay claim to but three members of this sub-genus of the Z'wrdi- dw, the Tawny, also called ‘“ Wilson's Thrush,” and “Veery,” the Olive-backed and the Hermit, for the Wood Thrush does not come so far north on the Atlantic sea- board, rarely occurring beyond Massachu- setts and never reaching the northern limit of the Alleghanian faunal area, while its gray-cheeked congener, though probably passing through the country en-route to its breeding ground in the far North, has not as yet been taken within our bounda- ries. The Hermit and the Olive-backed are abundant throughout the Province and the Tawny is much too common to be called rare. They usually reach the vicinity of St. John during the first half of May, the Hermit arriving first, followed within a few days by the Tawny and in some two weeks by the Olive-backed. They leave here about the middle of September. These species have a general appearance when in the field so similar that none but experts can distinguish them, though, wpon a close examination, the characteristics of each are found to be marked with sufficient dis- tinctness to leave no doubt of their iden- tification. In the field all three have the same outline from beak to tail, the same russet coloring above the same dull white breasts, more or less spotted ; but lay ex- amples of each side by side and it will prove that the Tawny was correctly named, for his russet plumes have a reddish tint in marked contrast with the greenish shade BST ON DECEMBER 15, 1882. of the Olive-backed, while the Hermit is distinguished by his tawny tail which changes to olive above the rump. But the actions of these birds are more nearly iden- tical than either form or color, for whether seen hopping along the ground or perched upon a tree, feeding or flying, it 1s impos- sible to detect any difference in them. Much has been written about these same manners that is not warranted by what is observed of them during their visit to this country. While here they appear neither timid nor shy, and I doubt if they ever yield to such plebian weaknesses. These birds are patricians, the premier genus of the arian aristocracy on Mr. Ridgway’s roll, and true to the instincts and tradi- tions of “the first families” are modest and retiring, and prefer the calm repose of the forest to the glare and bustle of the field They are courageous and excitement, but never and roadside. composed under quarrelsome, and are happy without being noisy. In short, they display the good breeding and refined manners of the thor- oughbreds that they are. They cannot be called gregarious but they are not solitary —Hermit Thrush is a positive misnomer. They do not commingle as socially as do the species of some other families; indeed, they never appear as companions, yet it is not unusual to find a number of the same species frequenting one grove. I have seen as many as thirty Hermits within an area of a hundred yards square. In nidifi- cation our three species exhibit a marked difference; the nests are differently con- structed and placed in different situations. Their eggs also differ in shape, size and [Vol. T-No. 24 color, and their songs differ—differ in tone, eompass, volume, theme and duration. The Tawny and the Hermit always build on the ground in this country, and though their nests and its location are quite simi- lar yet they are not identical ; both nests are loosely and roughly put together, but Veery’s is the most compact and the neat- est. They are usually placed in an inden- | ture, either natural or formed by the birds, and screened by an overhanging branch, but while the Veery prefers a dry knoll in a damp spot, within a wood, the Hermit usu- ally selects the margin of a grove or a patch of trees in a dry and partially over- grown open; neither build m a dense thicket of trees or shrubbery. Under the nests is placed a cushion or platform com- posed of dried grass or moss. The nest proper is btilt of dried grass and small twigs, unmixed with mud, and is lined with fine grass; sometimes fine fibrous roots and vines are added to the lining. The Olive-backed builds in a tree, and, like all tree-builders, makes a substantial structure. It is usually placed in the eroteh of a limb some six or eight feet from the ground, generally im a moist place, and occasionally in a really wet swamp. In a specimen of this nest before me coarse grass-is the predominating material in the external parts, but in the walls twigs of spruce, bits of lichens and dried leaves are mixed with the grass and all are woven into a solid mass, very firm and strong. The lining is formed by a layer of fine grass interwoven with pieces of a black, vine-like root, all, neatly laid; over these, at the bottom, is a layer of skeleton leaves. The measurements are: Depth, inside, 12 inches; width at mouth, 2% inches; out- side the diameter is irregular, varying from 44 to 5 inches. Mr. J. W. Banks tells me that of some fifty nests of the Olive-backed Thrush that he has examined all were lined with skeleton leaves; but Mr. Harold Gil- bert found one in 1878 that was lined with moose hair, This nest was built im a gar- 186 ORNITHOLOGIST den, in the suburbs of St. John, within twenty feet of the house and but an arms- length from one of the main walks. The moose hair was furnished by a tame animal kept on the grounds. The three species usually lay four eggs, but it is Mr. Banks’ opinion that m extremely wet or cold sea- sons three more frequently complete the dutch. So eminent and excellent an au- thority as Dr. Coues gives four and five as the number of eggs, but we have never seen more than four in any nest obtained in this country. The Tawny and the Hermit lay immacu- late eges of a greenish-blue color, but the eggs of the Hermit are much the paler and are also the longer and more pear-shaped. The eggs of the Olive-backed are of @ bright greenish-blue ground color, not so dark as the Veery’s, and irregularly marked with purplish-brown spots. In some ex- amples these spots are 80 large and numer- | ous they almost entirely hide the ground color. The average measurements of the eges are: Tawny, .86 %.67 ; Olive-backed, 92.69; Hermit, .89x.64. Few of our country-people are acquainted with the ap- pearance of these birds but are familiar with their songs which they attribute to one species called by them the “ Swamp Robin ;” for as in their appearance 80 11 their song, there is to some degree a super ficial resemblance ; all have peculiar metal- lic voices and sing somewhat similar melo- dies. Their songs resemble each other much more than they resemble that of any other species. The Tawny ranks first in classification but the Hermit takes prece- dence asa vocalist. His song is the grand- est; it is the finest musical composition and displays the most artistic execution, as well as the greatest compass and power of voice. One is surprised to find so little about the songs of these Thrushes in the writ- ings of the older ornithologists. Wilson says the Tawny has “no song” and calls the Hermit “a silent bird.” Audubon never heard the song of the Hermit, and Nuttall Dec. 15, 1882.] does it but scanty justice. To my ear it is by far the finest song we hear in these Northern woods, and fully deserves the seemingly exaggerated title of ‘ glorious,” given it by some modern writers. The Winter Wren is his nearest rival and he startles the listener into admiration by the perfect torrent of sweet harmonies, of brilliant passages and maryellously execu- ted trills, he hurls upon the stillness of the forest solitude in which he delights to roam; but, beautiful and joyous as his song is, in comparison with the song of the Hermit Thrush it sounds mechanical, and more like an air from a music box, The music of the Hermit never startles you; if is in such perfect harmony with the surroundings it is often passed by unno- ticed, but it steals upon the sense of an ap- preciative listener like the quiet beauty of the sunset. Very few persons have heard him at his best. To accomplish this you must steal up close to his forest sanctuary when the day is done, and listen to the vesper hymn that flows so gently out wpon the hushed air of the gathering twilight. You must be very close to the singer or you will lose the sweetest und most tender and pathetic passages, so low are they ren- dered—in the merest whispers. I cannot, however, agree with Mr. Burroughs that he is more of an evening than a morning songster, for I have often observed that the birds in any given locality will sing more frequently and for a longer period in the morning than in the evening. I prefer to hear him in the evening, for there is a difference; the song in the morning is more sprightly—a musician would say “has greater brilliancy of expression ”— and lacks the extreme tenderness of the evening song, yet both have much the same notes and the same “hymn-like serenity.” AND OOLOGIST. 187 within cathedral walls. On one occasion an Indian hunter after listening to one of these choruses for a time said to me, “That makes me feel queer.” It was no slight influence moved this red-skinned stoic of the forest to such a speech. The song of the Olive-backed ranks second in composition but he has the sweetest and most mellow voice of the three. The Veery displays the least musical ability yet his simple strain is exceedingly pleasant to the ear and his beantiful voice exhibits most strongly that peculiar resonant metal- lictone which is characteristic of the genus. T have not attempted to represent these songs by words or notes, for all such ex- periments as I have seen, appear to me to be failures. Neither the words of Dr. Brewer or Mr. Samuels, nor the syllables used by Mr. Ridgway or Mr. Gentry con- yey to my mind the idea of the songs of the birds that is impressed on mymemory; The birds frequently render their matinal hymns in concert and the dwellers in a grove will burst out together in one full chorus, forming a evander 7’e Dewn—more thrilling—than is voiced by surpliced choir and after a patient rehearsal of the notes of Mr. Horsford’s score on piano, violin and fiute I fail to recognize the melodies he has attempted to write. Perhaps Mr. Horsford will say that, as I do not lve in ‘ta white pine country,” I can know nothing about these Thrushes, and I certamly do not if his article in Forest and Stream* is to be taken as evidence of what is correct. Besides their songs the three species have call notes and two or three minor notes, used chiefly whena mated pair are together. The alarm note of the Olive-backed, which Mr. Minot thinks sounds like “ whit,” and which he calls “the ordinary note” of the bird, is seldom used except the bird has a nest near the intruder. I think the sound would be better represented by “kwut” very abruptly and quickly uttered, with a peculiar emphatic intonation. But the songs and notes of all birds must be heard to be understood and appreciated.—J. Chamberlain, St. John, N. B. *Prof, Horsford’s writings on our Thrushes first appeared in “ Familiar Science” published by us. We also engraved the music. Other of our articles appeared in Forest and Stream as original. O.&0, Vii. Dec. 15. 183 400 145- 1% 7. Novy. 1889. ]. AND OOLOGIST. The Family Turdide in Orleans County, N.Y.. The family Turdide or Thrush family is, comparatively, very well represented in Or- leans County. The thrush family in North America com- prises twenty-six well-defined species and sub- species. Of this number, fifteen are confined to the | west and south-west, and one is confined to Greenland; leaving but ten of possible occur- rence in Eastern United States. Out of this possible ten seven are known to occur in Orleans County. Mentioning these in the order of their class- ification (A.O.U. nomenclature) we have, first, the Catbird (Galeoscoptes carolinensis). This well-known bird is one of our most common summer residents from the first week in May, the time of its arrival from the south, until the last of September. The Catbird breeds abundantly, building its nest of sticks, twigs, rootlets and leaves in a bush, low tree, or a cluster of vines, generally in a thicket or wooded place. ‘The eges are generally four or fivein number, and the young birds are hatched about June 8-15. The Catbird is seldom seen outside of its forest home, but there it is abundant, Next in order we have the Brown Thrasher (Harporhynchus rufus) which, however, is of very rare occurrence here. Why this is so is not known. It seems to be quite common elsewhere throughout the eastern United States but in this particular section of Western New York it certainly is quite rare. However, a specimen is occasionally seen, and a friend of the writer, who resides just over the line into Genesee County, secured a nest with eggs from the thickets of Tonawanda Swamp. ‘The song of this bird has been the remark of many writers for its variety and beauty, and I fear Orleans ornithologists will have to rely wholly upon their words. The Wood Thrush (Turdus mustelinus) is a very common bird of our woodland in summer. Its beautiful flute-like notes are heard in this locality, for the first time, about May 10th, although I have recorded the arrival of muste- linus as early as April 21st (1888). It leaves for the south early in September. It breeds commonly, building its nest about the 20th of May and usually laying four eggs, though quite often only three. In this locality the Wood Thrush is quite often imposed upon by the Cowbird. The nest is as a rule in the top of a sapling and is composed to a goodly extent of leaves, although twigs, roots and grasses as well are in its make-up. The name * Flute- bird,’’ derived from the striking resemblance of its notes to that instrument, is also given to this bird. Wilson’s Thrush (Turdus fuscescens) arrives and departs at about the same time as the Wood Thrush, and like that bird is a resident of the forest and thicket. It is not, however, as plentiful as the Wood Thrush. Its nest is usually on the ground at the base of a sapling, although frequently it is placed a few feet from the ground, and may contain three or four eggs. The Olive-backed Thrush (Turdus ustulatus swainsoni), next in order, differs from the thrushes already spoken of in that it is nota summer resident in Orleans County, but a migrant, Wintering south of us and spending the summer and breeding north of the United States, it passes us on its way to and from its breeding grounds respectively, during the spring and fall. Its occurrence is rather rare, and as it keeps for the most part to the tree tops and does not tarry long during its migra- tions, it is seldom seen, An uncommon inci- dent in connection with this bird in this county is the fact that it has been known to breed here. Contrary to the rule of its breeding far to the north, Frank H. Lattin, of Gaines, on each of the dates, June 2, 1880, and June 1, 1881, found a nest of this bird. Both of these nests were in small saplings, one four feet from the ground, the other ten. The first nest contained four eggs while the second con- tained three eggs with one of the Cowbird. The breeding of this bird in Orleans County certainly proves a remarkably southern exten- sion of its breeding habitat. The Olive-backed Thrush is a sub-species of the Russet-backed Thrush of the Pacific coast region. The Hermit Thrush (Turdus aonalaschke pallasii), far-famed and noted for its wonderful and soul-stirring powers of song when in its summer home, is considered a variety of the Pacifie coast species known as the Dwarf Her- mit Thrush. Like the preceding species it oceurs in this county only as a migrant, and is the most boreal of all the thrushes. During the first or second week in April it may be seen on the ground ihn our forests on its way north, and does not seem at all shy, and will allow one to approach within a very few feet. Again in October it passes us on its return trip. It is quite rare. Hastern Massachusetts, Wyn. 64. G4. 6G 64. Gays 64, be, Hike 6s 64. 4 4 yt Ge. [pe 408. [549 5 oe (ts igh Hla ff Ue ee Ast 248. Ror 2 a os ba Ths % 6s 66 ee 6s. “a 6, ay . $7. 74. ca ee Mf EGS SPO om [557 Lk 0” Bie 10% Ms. Be. Wit. an 1890. - 1887, bjt. ets) 1690 G. 6A. 67, ees A ee, 255. aie 18; & Lu. 30%. 3/4 1640. ibe iy B17 ee /§9/. ip 2 [oe Tes fad a= tas Lf aS Ad hB* hin, QS GAGE IOS Shit Concer d. je Abner Taree (lie DU J273 IDPS IM ELDEN AIP! 208 died 1g3! 25! 265 £9 265. £94,308 danend /If2 bbe. Cy Sinise? CTR fs lee ae, ae 5868 BUG Ee 15 Ge ecupatin’ x Yeh, ss 6, ae ESE fo Bz Bila #) A. Bey Bi wt, 10 i) SEGE TL 286, IK RS TPB Dace io My bony ten 13 2 EIT ELSE LFS MoS ut 2a 2 195 Jo og ow Pe ee Se ee Foe md Wi LO%, 0/4 ALG RI Corer [692 Se ms an ee ah See vine s p 1 540% (NGS THR, SK 749% WEN SIZE, UG) IDE LAG Comer 1595, Ross tt 14 [2 ig Mah 34 Ni, 24-34-9818 4-198 - 188-168-128 -19%-4155-~ foorend, /¥f2 Su Fh ES Oe /33 144 Vos 8 1P-22" 23! 29". Lerzccoral [h4. Whi Ch es _ Cda (OS SIENA Mood / f OA 1 oe DI Comer /59Z. Yo rae Poul) - (atts) 24.98) 87" 3 ibatts 14) Crees, /§P3. 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Maigret. tuaiek Ae 2 aller, AL Ti Mins AE Vig ae ak ie ae Bay Ae inde ae uf Wn Prefele fre Whacs pe. Pe Prag ass cet fo We Crcvmney ei so, eS. awd {Lire Zh. Bp, any FS aed Pie Joviry whe Lee ae: en Ufeobes y De sexhee o tpirte ot potty wth 4 decop eee ates | UR acai te ang Soe: Some wo Caribe pid ever, hetfcnig tari ml Hid whut Vogl ten. parpetap Heater o 1 tea tr, NWallanrnr .— ; (ole that e tat Rt Py oF inate | ei PMLA ensevle He i Yoo ye aa re, Lh ee: A Le oe 2 Hy. ft a ee Whi er Brinsley ofr eae Bebe eae Sit. . ee Ku Races tal feos lat. Ph Ze. a / Aon HR Ke ee 4 if a aes [rok ot « Jhrnsek wlick, re Otte atuws7sr Pritt Wap x “Pee- me, butt im Braadifinre. Prfr we cored Sectt cf— J avr oe Hen Crack TT or Wo he a ae nea Bet aa ha @ 1892, Copied from Journal, NaSsSachusetts, ; : Srrctiid festechcered. bE FEI 120 AC. Turdus fuscescens. Concord, Mass, A ffine singer, 1898, June 4, Even the Wilson's Thrushes were nearly silent this evening, right they sang very freely and finely in the rain. rain stopped at sunset to-day and the sky cleared in the put the strong N.E. wind still holds), Like the Hermit Thrushes they vary greatly in individual proficiency, One that I listened to last evenitig had an exceptionally clear, pure voice and his execution was without a flaw. I have never heard a better singer. Without question the Wilson's Thrushes furnish the finest as well as the most copious music of any of the birds which breed in this immediate region. As twilight was falling this evening they made the woods fairly ring with their clear, flute-like voices. They are almost as numerous in the pine woods on the tops ana sides of the hills as in the swamps. There is less inequality and variability in the songs of different individuals than is the case with the Hermit and Wood Thrushes but yet there are some birds whose voices are finer and clearer and whose notes are more varied and intri- cate than those of the common run, I do not remember to have noted before that the Wilson's Thrush, like so many other birds, has favorite singing perches to: which it resorts day after day. This, at least, is true of a bird which is breeding somewhere near the east end of Turdus fuscescens. Concord, Mass, @ 1898. Ball's Hill and which sings every evening in the large red June 21, oak on the edge of Holden's meadow sitting invariably not on- (No.2). ly on the same branch but actually on the same twig and always facing towards the north-west. Wilson's Thrushes at 9 A.M, on the side of Ball's Hill. Gilbert heard nother near the cabin about the middle of the afternoon. At evening there was protracted and general singing all around the hill and in the blueberry swamp behind it, at leas’ or six birds taking lent form. Why is it that this species remains silent so long after its arrival? Issaw the’ first this season on May ana and vy the 10th they were abundant. Living, as I do here, in the very midst of their favorite haunts I should have known it had there been any singing before to-day. They have called a little at morning and evening and uttered the bleat- ing note but not once have I heard the song before this mopn- ing. Seventeen days is a longer period of silence than usual, however. Hylocichla fuscescens fuscescens. Witson’s Tarusu.— Though it is not my desire to question the ruling of the American Ornithologists’ Union, yet the long sought opportunity to hear the bird inhabiting New- foundland has at last been gratified, and I am more strongly convinced than ever that my fuliginosa is distinct. Its darker coloring leads one at sight to confuse it with the Olive-back, and I had to shoot the bird in one case to be positive of my identification. Its call note phew has what seems to me quite a different quality, and its song, if my birds were not peculiar, instead of being an uninterrupted performance is divided into three dis- tinct parts, and unlike any Veery song I have ever heard in New England. I listened to several birds singing near the mouth of Harry’s Brook, and I believe the difference would be noted by any one familiar with the stereo- typed song — R. Heuser Hows, Jr., Thoreau Museum, Concord, Mass. Auh. xxx fare. 1973. yee Birds of Upper St, John, Batchelder, 2. Turdus fuscescens S¢efh. Witson’s Turusu. — Rare at Grand Falls. On June 16 a nest with four fresh eggs was found on top of a stump. Not met with at Fort Fairfield. Mr. McLeod says that it appears _at Houlton by May 15, and by the roth of June becomes common. Breeds. Ball, N.O, O 7,APFU, 1882, 0.108 Newfoundland Notes. A Trip up the — Humber iver, Aug. 10- Sept. 24,1899, 49. Turdus fuscescens. WuiLson’s THrusH.—One seen September 14. Louis H. Porter, New York City. , 1900, p- 72. ‘ Sermn (Buds of, ht Cobatl Mursing Ragin,” Dithik Ovdarro. ‘by fatkhe €, MAK Ak, xx i ViJan. 79, AAs 73. Turdus fuscescens. Witson’s Turusu.— Several single indi- Me vz viduals observed. Jormes Hels Fling : Pork Fanrd tude , An fe Xs Vy Jon, (907. fr. 96. 285. Hylocichla fuscescens. Writson’s THRUSH.— Abundant migrant, April 13 to May 16, and September 13 to 26; common resident, May 16 to August 31; breeds (May 29 to June 26). Par dcr fon can oma . phew ne bees ay, Maine, ipa Cae mae a I€96 haneeggeaian : Prlannah.. Orn fed. sre n, €. OF Dnhy ? V wes ore te 7 PUL heey crs saiai | ths ad 4 DOE Bds. Obs. at Franconia and Bethlehem N.H. July-August, 1874. J,A.Al'en e 5 é imes near Franconia village. 47. Turdus fuscescens. Seen a few times near Fran a g Auk, V. April, 1888. p.156 Bites Obs. at Bridgewater, N.H. July12-Sept. 4, I853. F.H. Allen Turdus fuscescens.—Quite common, Ank, VI, Jan. , 1889, BR. 77 g . . = 1-21 Bas, Obs. in Franconia, N.H. Juns 1 °86, and June4- Aug. 1,’°87, W.Faxon 82. Turdus fuscescens. VrEERy.—Very common. Auk, V. April, 1888. p.153 Summer Birds of Presidential Range, White Mts. A.P, Chadbourne rt. The intervale woods and thickets along the Androscoggin River, where 7. fuscescens is abundant, J. u. pallasz less so. Auk, 4, April 1887, p.l0g Birds Obsvd. near Holderness, N.H June 4-12, 85, and4-11, 86, W.Faxon Auk, V. April, 1888, p.161 i a Ifpboro, N, H.June.18-1889,., 81. Hylocichla fuscescens. Witson’s TurusH.— Common in the valley; I heard them most often in the alders along the streams, but they also occupy the maple woods at the base of the mountain, in company with the Olive-backs and the Wood Thrushes. Mass. (near Concord). 4 Ge ; a /o PME IL ISS Me ATE 1 23g AS Lok a 6 Es ia ee 188 SS | A, % wae [yh gig. i pi Lolly ITY g 2 73 A eid Pes al /SN7 Juee 244 254+ 262 1997 « IL? 13% 14% _ 18 8-17 \9g8 byebetiily 2 thoanfy; wit Coreen Loree 6. necply y Lndidl, airct el fre os fecne.! th { f i Sa eye beac’ June, 1888, pte ha tL Em ee 8. 1885. r 4M, il. 4. ape leas. 16 ee 17 il Prag Po. on ZAlo.- Rutland, > Maas, June fp-4886 LEEK S. W. Denton. May G. by //. | Sane #2 a ¢@. Birds of Bristol County, Mass. F. We Andros. Turdus fuscescens Steph., Wilson’s 'Vhrush. Summer resident, common. Breeds. 0.&0, XI, Sept. 1887 p.141 i 3arkshire Bds. Obs. near Sheffield, Berks Oy, Mass, June 17-26, '88, V/, Faxon 73- Turdus fuscescens. Wuitson’s Turusu.—Common. A few ob- served well up towards the summit of the Dome. Auk, VI. Jan., 1889.p.46 Birds Kuown te Pass Breecin is: g Season nr. Winchendon, Mass, Wim, Srewsier | 79. Turdus fuscescens. Auk, V, Oct,, 1888. p.389 Bdg. Obs. near Graylock Mt. Berkshire Co. Mass. June 28-July16. W.Faxon 75- Turdus fuscescens. Wutrson’s TuaRuUsH.— cleared portions of the country, a from the sea-level on the cle Common in the lower. nd observed at leastas high as 2000 feet ared portions of the mountain sides. Auk, V1. April, 1889. p.106 W. Middlesex Co. Mass, ih hind 4 EAdtveg 4 June 25-30, (889. inti } thrwrorbeooar i / VorveseLir, Co } K ain CO teeta, tel ae frre. Le F Ae Heth — maple Permedd | Oimared aber Wa San » Me Ie, Adz Orrvg obrrracra Draw, 4 ra Concord, Mass. 1899, it the usual number breeding at Ball's Hill, Found June, two nests, both in dry situations; one among oak leaves at the base of a bunch of oaks on the side of the hill near its foot and only a few yards from the river path, the other in the side of a sandy embankment near the at The former nest contained three eggs on Me é and three pparently only a few hours old on the 12th of June, [320 ITA ‘O%"O 8 ve reo ‘Ss ‘69; gyro ‘TTA ML +. E2/'V'E38 Oct., 1882.] AND O1 Turusuxs.—I should be very much pleased to see an article in your journal on some of the Vurdidae, viz: Turdus mustelina (Wood Thrush,) 7. Pallasi (Hermit Thrush,) 7. Swainsoni (Olive-backed Thrush,) and 7. Fuscescens (Wilson's Thrush. All of these breed on the island of Montreal, but their eggs resemble one another so much that I have not been able to identify the species. Therefore, I should be glad to see a description of their nests and eggs, as found by yourself or correspondents.—Hrnest D. Wintle, Mon- treal, Canada. [Our experience with the Wilson Thrush js limited to one nest, and that was found by Capt. Thos, J. Rigney, a very reliable assistant, who reported flushing a Thrush, new to him, in a swamp near Rockville, Conn., from a tuft or bog. On examination the nest was found in the centre of the tuft and set well down into it, and the tuft was almost hid- den by a skunk cabbage. The nest was a fine piece of bird architecture, the foundation being composed of leayes | carefully laid in layers, evidently to keep out the moisture. | Above that the nest was like a well built Wood Thrush’s | nest, only it was rather deeper and not quite solarge. It | contained four fresh eggs, which are still in our possession. | They are quite round and not much larger than Blue Birds’ eggs. We should be glad to hear from others in answer to | the above. Probably our St. John contributors can help | us out.—Ep. Wilson’s Thrush is by no means the com- NS mon bird in Summer in Southern Connect- icut it is in Massachusetts and northward. June 9, I found my first nest in the swamp ~~ on Groton Long Point. The pure emer- > alds of the Thrush were dwarfed by the | presence of two large Cow-bird’s eggs. The nest was peculiar in being well raised " from the ground by dry leaves stuffed into the uprights of a spoonwood clump which snugly supported the structure itself, thus cortesponding in date and position with a estern type found by Dr. Coues near mbina, Dacotah, on the Red River of the\North. — nA1127| Connecticut, June, 1893, "a A ah Rpand Tar pth ZB try! f 10 seo "YS cvs a] Lb 7046 read” Tat ae (oe fa PF appe 4 Al i Let my inquirer as to these summer breeding /vanges take his stand anywhere in the grove of moss-covered hornbeams, about June 10th, ) and hear an unrivalled medley. Above and through the song of countless Parule, which is like the droning of giant bees, is heard the mocking cadence of Chats, the fiery out- burst of the Orchard Oriole, and sweeter, because rarer, the cry of the Veery. To no other place in my territory can I take a friend found but one nest of this species. But in this restricted swamp every season | find one or two pairs breeding without search. Indeed \ I have really looked for no eggs on. Groton ' Long Point except Parula Warbler’s, but in | observing the habits of this dominating | species, I get the random notes of its associ-| (ates and neighbors. % - ra Vi Hovebted rad: O4O.XNN. Nr. 1891, p- 59-60. f Naval Hospital Grounds, B 490, G.H,Coues 15, Turdus fuscescens. Tawny Turusn.— Very common. Bull, N.0,0, 4,Jan.,1879, p.31 Arrivais of Mig’y Birds, Spring-1886, Central Park,N. Y.City.A.G. Paine, Jr. Thrush. 0.&0, XI, Aug.1886,p,125 Birds of the Adirondack Regio: ©.H, Merriam, a * 2. Hylocichla fuscescens (S#eph.) Baird. W1tson’s THRUSH.—Com- mon in certain localities, where it breeds. Bull, N,O,0, 8,Oct, 1881, p, 226 Vit mm thay ay An { yu an Bods ak Ree, i: an eee ee Mats te Yak Lr qor| Ofprck Ro 25> Wilson Thrush. Tolerably common. Descriptions of First Plumage of Cer- tain North Am. Bbs. Wm. Brewster, 4, Turdus fuscescens. First plumage: female. Above bright reddish-buff, deepest on back and rump: feathers of pileum, nape, back, and wing-coverts margined with dark brown, confining the lighter color to somewhat indefinitely defined central drop-shaped spots. Lores and line from lower mandible along sides of throat, dark sooty-brown: throat, sides, and abdomen pale brownish-yellow with indistinct transverse bands of brown ; breast deep buff, each feather edged broadly with dull sooty-brown ; anal region dirty white. In my collection, taken in Cambridge, Mass., July 23, 1874, : Bull, N.O.0, 3,Jan.,1878.p. /F. The Singing of Birds, E. P. Bicknell, Turdus fuscescens. Wutson’s THRUSH. Contrary to what we find to be true of most of our summer birds, the Wilson’s Thrush seems often to remain silent for some days after its arrival in the spring ; although this is not invariably the case. Though it comes to us but little later than the Wood Thrush, its song in some years may not be heard until two weeks after that of the latter bird; and yet we lose it fully a month earlier. With the Wilson’s Thrush singing continues regularly through the month of June and into the early part of July, but after this time is not commonly heard, and soon has entirely ceased. For several years dates of final songs have been entered in my books between July 10 and 15; though a single song may sometimes be heard later in the month. July 21, 22, and 26 are the latest dates that I have recorded. Often in the first, or even second week of July, though singing is so soon to cease, the vocal impulse seems to be at its height, and our thick swamps and low woods sound with the continually reiterated songs of numbers of these fine- voiced Thrushes. These birds are so much oftener heard than seen that after they have become silent they are not often observed: but not until the end of September have they all left us. By the end of August the plumage has been renewed and the birds are very fat. But specimens may be taken at this time, and, indeed, through September, showing a slight activity of feather- growth. Awk, I, April, 1884, p, /27. STI PA LAT OR a SO EN LA ee. “2 zs i ame 4 as Lett Eee ae: vA, a b | Le eee lf te tS at AA hi Le Dib Pracd ALleceagt eA ta ploy g Z ye ee See ee Meee Dordt. Le rumen a2 e. by Joeed j f = Pair abo Zz (Lagll LA, pee ee ft Bie LE £77P-C~ oe roe oe wy "2. y ara tt, Zt A— oe ea a. SMe G2 t: I a Loved ae ae | } 2 re) : a a 1-L4 Wee FPeccle (rex Pe over NG Poe pete Lr ieee : ee i ly a A /Z Ca Bing Oe ae Becect. ree Ny \ | | 2: | Wa btn Le few SS ‘| Vas J " WZ y oe y) W Bes Le a aA Bett CPC f* eet aa Aucetiop ZZ, ALE-OL sy ae on Prreeck| Beever o a idl os 2 debinncleat. VLD | eee Axe PES Way tence lini Y Aoz Zezel Wee Le me Z rs 6 72-at o JS ee a Yee Ceb tte ; ? ie Z ye Ze LL ee Bee 7 ee etot ea ne A Se Se Wy A XN CS Ll one. / Yi fi Pa y Vf W 4) y, an Z = ZZ [Jird pect, Jie gp VAL ON / VEZ a AE a ZEAE i FS 4 9 a wy, /, 4 , VA 4 oA, OC a ee pe ee Seth LlcteL. ZZ LZPPEAL eee Ze 4) eas Wi y, YA / Y J Wi, Z A, ei L t Lf "VA ee v4 p> ihe, a Ate Lak ve fies Vr Jit Lif gre. 720222 Of ft % ] va ——— 4 i << a ys) in TEE: L _ ws, Bo. pleol. Offer, Grr Jeep Dad rece 1 Y 4 fy ) é yy A ay a 4, 2 Po W, L/ A2e- Zetec pie. bette d Cttetl— ELLIE ACALELL 432 OE 7A2ZELLAS Gp) 7 7) ae, 4 - y ye vi yy y) . / _ i Ay (fo { {ort Ai get pitlizz2e of bi iLtd 12 Dr2clck. Farr ti3a2- 2etectl ZZ f YY i oe Yay a ‘ we Jie. Pred IPO / OLaese ot £843 etl ZA Z ) v » W4 aay ; Ly Y Jp gy : e ZZ, Zee aye ZZ Shon poe lie cy Le pete ye ae y, y / i cL Wed / / Mass. (near Concord). MAY 28 1887 JUN 2 1887 proceeded far when I saw a . small bird fly from asmall stump 2s") direct- ly in my path. I ) ase ened forward and found a nest new to mej ites taining three small blue eggs, about the size of the common Bluebird, excepting the color was a deep blue green. I knew Thad a prize, and sat down to watch for the Thrush to return—for such it was—to observe her, but she did not appear. TI took the nest and eges and found the lat. ter very much incubated, and had to use my large drill to blow them, and then with | much difficulty, making a larger hole than I wished. The nest was sunk into the hollow stump more than the sketch shows. i After that I found a Wilson Thrush | with three eges upon the ground beneath the shadow of a blackberry bush—such a nest and bird as I found at Rockville, Ct. 4 These were also badly gone and I could not blow them. Both nests are in my possession. eee Vii. uae 2 1853 p.c2-o3 Spotted Eggs of Wilson’s Thrush. I have recently received a remarkable set of eges of the Wilson’s Thrush (Hylocichla fusces- cens). They were taken June 2, 1888, in Franklin County, Maine. The parent bird was shot, and fully identified. The eggs, which are four in number, are of the usual color, but they are all distinctly speckled with russet. One of the eggs is marked much more heavily than the others, but on all of them the specks are easily seen. The largest of the markings measure .03 x.03. The eggs themselves meas- ure .82 x .65; .82 x66; .83 x .66; .82 x .67. O &O. XIV. Apr. 1889 p.6O J.P. N. Witson’s Turusu (Zurdus fuseescens,) except the Robin, the most abundant thrush of this locality. Although found plenti- fully in nearly all situations, its favorite haunts are low, swampy woods. ‘The past Summer a pair of these Thrushes built their nest and reared their young within fifty yards of my home. The site which |} they selected for their nest was by the roadside under an elm tree, among the rank, growing male ferns. They seemed to be an unusually social pair, and came about the house searching for food, show- |} ing no signs of fear. Teams were con- stantly passing within eight feet of their |} nest. Of twelve sets which I collected this Summer, seven contained four, four three, and one two eggs each. The set || containing but two eggs was taken July | 26th and would undoubtedly have con- | tained one or two more had I left the nest | undisturbed. The earliest set was taken | May 30th. Six sets measure as follows: Set of four collected May 30th, 9266, 90 x 65, 88x 65, 88x65; set of four col- lected June 5th, 8865, 8765, 8665, °85 65; set of four collected June 5th, 89 x68, 88x67, 88x66, 9265; set of three collected June 138th, 85 68, 84x 67, 8568; set of three collected June 20th, 84x 70, 87x69, 8469; set of three col- lected June 28th, 8060, 7662, 80x60. The set taken June 28th was, I think, the third litter laid by that pair of birds, which will account for the small size of the eggs. The eggs are oval but vary somewhat in shape; their color is bluish- green, a little darker than those of the Bluebird, and lighter than those of the Catbird. The nest is placed on or near the ground, but usually in a low bush within a few inches of the ground, and is composed of leaves, dried grass and weeds, lined with fine roots, strips of bark, and often hair. There is but little variation in the nests which I have examined in this loeality.—C. O. Tracy, Taftsville, Vt. Suwesexihe—for~oleme “VE Oma L 0.&0. V11. Nev. 1884.p, 174, Wirson’s THRUSH, with SporreD Eaes AND NESTING ON A TREE. — In a collection of nests and eggs received from Vermont this season was the nest of this species built upon a horizontal limb of a tree, fifteen feet from the ground, and containing four spotted eggs. This is the only in- stance I have ever known either of the nest being much above the ground or of the eggs being other than immaculate. But I find it is not without precedent. Mr. George O. Welch several years since found a nest of this Thrush in Lynn at a height of twenty-five feet above the ground, and Mr. Allen has recorded (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., XVII, 48) an instance of its having spotted eggs. This case combines both. The nest is large and bulky, was saddled over quite a large limb, the impress of which is shown in the base. The ground-color of one egg is unusually deep, as deep as that of a Catbird, but of a different shade. The spots are of a bright golden-brown, in one egg very strongly marked, in the other three not 80 much so, The parent was sent with the nest, and before il received it its identity had been carefully verified by that veteran ornithologist, Charles S. Paine, Esq., of Randolph, Vt. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. Buell. N.O,C. 8, Oct., 1878, D. 193 . OLOGIST [ Vol. 16—No. 4 Nesting of Wilson's Thrush in Western Pennsylvania. Wilson’s Thrush (Hylocichla fuscescens) has heretofore been considered to be a transient visitor in Pennsylvania, breeding but very rarely, and then chiefly in mountainous districts. Within the last two years, however, Ihave had the good fortune to discover that in this section of the state there are localities where, strange as if may seem, the species is a common breeder, so that the records of its nesting as given in the May and June (1890) numbers of the O, & O. by Messrs. Koch, Norris. and Surber, however exceptional they may be for the localities mentioned, cannot be held to indicate the uniform rarity of the bird as a summer resident throughout the entire state, for quite the contrary is true. | On May 15, 1889, I boarded the train bound for Leasuresville, Butler County. When, late the same afternoon, I stepped off at the lonely way-station of Monroe, a single glance at my surroundings convinced me that I was in a locality especially rich in bird-life, and, as |subsequent events proved, my judgment formed then was correct. And as I trudged up the hill, tired and dinnerless, and carrying a heavy valise and shotgun, with the prospect of a three-miles’ walk in the hot sun over a hilly, dusty road before arriving at my des- tination, I was cheered by the song of a bird I had never heard before, but in the flute-like quality of whose notes I recognized is affinity with the Wood Thrush. I did not see the bird at the time, and pursuit was obviously out of the question, but I instantly decided that it must be Wilson’s Thrush. Thereafter. during my stay, while wandering amid the eternal gloom of the trackless, hemlock forest and the swampy thicket. I constantly heard the same song, which may be expressed by the syllables hee-awee-aweer-aweer-aweer-aweer-awy’, begin- ning lond and clear, but gradually dying away toward the end,—a far-away, weird song, with a wild ring to it savoring of untouched nature ,and the primeval forest. The acoustic quality lof the notes was such that they always seemed |to come from a distance, but though I rightly suspected that this was not really the case the birds always eluded my observation while singing, and it was not until June 11th that my perseverance was at last rewarded by seeing the bird in the act, and thus proving finally that my suspicions, as to the author of the songs being Wilson’s Thrush, were correct. Editor of 0. & 0.: Allow me to add an instance of the breeding |of Wilson’s Thrush in Pennsylvania, to the \report of Messrs. Norris and Koch in May /0. & O. LI have a set of three eggs of this bird taken June 10, 1885, in Delaware County, | Pa. Thad. Surber. White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. 1890, p.96 |, Penn. oun, Pa. lson’s ‘tation Nid- four. Aprit 1891.] AND 06 p.13G Previously, however, on May 27th, I had taken the nest of the species. On the day in| Gye question, which by the way was rainy and dis- / agreeable, I was accompanied by Mr. James Thrush Myers, one of the local hunters and woodsmen, Hiseven who proposed that we should go to a nest mb pro- which he had found a few days before, After of the a walk of about a mile, interrupted, however, by an exciting adventure with a Blue Yellow- backed Warbler, we came to a high woods with a thick undergrowth of laurel and huekleberry, where the bird was presently flushed from her nest on the ground. I gave) <. one glance at the nest, another at the bird,| ~ of exclaimed ‘‘ Wilson’s Thrush!” and ina twink- is fusces- ling fired and killed her. Returning to the |, I found nest, I found it to contain three eggs, of pest of a exactly the same shade of Dbluish-green as )ubt as to those of the Wood Thrush. ‘They were, of | only egg course, smaller, and, upon blowing, proyed to.|know of, be slightly incubated. The nest was not |ire in the sunken in the ground, but placed on a mound |_ of leaves, thus escaping the damp; it was pale surrounded and canopied over with huckle- berry bushes. Leaves, strips of bark and ity, Mich, weed stalks entered into its composition, with He: broken leaves as lining. Measurements showed |ns (Steph.) Baird. it to be five inches in external diameter by |)ne of the last of the four and a half inches in external depth, with |nce. Arrives from a cavity two and three-quarter inches by two |to breed, Occasion- and three-quarter inches. Yr. : [ may add as a significant fact that I have never as yet found this species in Beaver County, either as a summer resident or as a migrant, although the other species of the |O.—,y ©- genus native to the Eastern United States are ich. 1891 Notes, abundant in their season. A. Swales, 70. W. EB. Clyde Todd. oa Beaver Co., Pa, i took a set of four eggs | O&0,=x Vi, Aveivileei p, 90-57. \bird. The Viery does not | | breeu nere as commonly as the Wood Thrush. | O0.& O.Vol.18, July.1893 p.100 Detroit, Mich. 1891 Notes, 8,5, Swales, May 27. Wilson’s Thrush, three eggs, 0.& 0. Vol.18, July.1898 p:100 Detroit, Mich. 1891 Notes, Mi .H. Swales, June 8. Wood and I went out to High- land Park. ‘Took a set of four spotted eggs lof the Wilson’s Thrush, O.& O.Vol.18, July.1898 p,100 |and the primeval forest. The acoustic quality of the notes was such that they always seemed |to come from a distance, but though I rightly |suspected that this was not really the case the birds always eluded my observation while singing, and it was not until June 11th that my perseverance was at last rewarded by seeing the bird in the act, and thus proving finally that my suspicions, as to the author of the songs being Wilson’s Thrush, were correct. Editor of 0. & O.: : Allow me to add an instance of the breeding of Wilson’s Thrush in Pennsylvania, to the report of Messrs. Norris and Koch in May 0. & O. I have a set of three egys of this bird taken June 10, 1885, in Delaware County, Pa. Thad. Surber. White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. Birds of Chester County, Penn. Cyrus B.Ressel, Ercildoun, Pa. 195. Turdus fuscescens (Steph.). Wilson’s | Thrush. Summer resident; rare; in migration }common. Arrives second week in May. Nid- |ificates by the last of the month; eggs, four. Departs by October. oO &O. XIV. Sept. 1889 p.1g0 Kak: Amo S GH. WE eae Last June I found a set of Wilson’s Thrush || containing three eggs of the thrush and seven | | Cowbird’s eggs. The nest was on a limb pro- | ||jecting over the sidewalk in a part of the || town most frequented. Oro. XV. 77 Peg 1890. p70. Birda Breeding in Marshall Oo i. No. 756. Wilson’s Thrush (Turdus fusces- | cens). Very ware. On May a0, 1889, I found asingle egg of this species in the nest of a Summer Yellowbitd. There is no doubt as to the identity of the egg. It is the only egg ever found in the county that I know of, i, ot > ; 1e although I have seen the birds here in tl reeding season. breeding sia : DB: 1290, Ws othe _ ll Birds of Kalamazoo Oounty, Mich. Dr. Morris Gibbs. 2. [2.] Hylocichla fuscescens (Steph.) Baird. Wilson’s Thrush; Veery.—One of the last of the family to make its appearance. Arrives from May 1to10. A few remain to breed. Occasion- ally: lay five eggs; usually four. a 0.&0, X, Jan,1885,p, ©. Detroit, Mich. 1891 Notes, : B. H, Swales, Nn ee 7, | Wilson’s Thrush ; took a set of four eggs | /and one of the Cowbird. The Viery does not | | breed here as commonly as the Wood Thrush. O.& O. Vol.18, July.1893 p.100 Detroit, Mich. 1891 Notes. 8, H, Swales, be | May 27. Wilson’s Thrush, three eggs, 0.& O.Vol.18, July.1893 p;100 Detroit, Mich. 1891 Notes, B.H. Swales, | June 8. Wood and I went out to High- Hand Park. ‘Took a set of four spotted eggs of the Wilson’s Thrush, | 0.& O. Vol.18, July.1893 p,10Q Nesting of Wilson’s Thrush in Pennsylvania. —— Notes- gga of Thrushes & Thrashers. To most of the readers of the O. & O., sup- : H.G. Parkers E posing that they are New Englanders, the Sines Abedeh (Hylocichta fuscesccus). Eggs Wilson’s Thrush (Turdus fuscescens) is in all universally four, blue, unspotted. In shade probability one of the most common birds they seem to be darker than Cees of the Flermit breeding in their locality. Thrush, and this darker blue is spe in But this is not so in Pennsylvania, for comparing a series of each. The size is ap-| although the bird is a transient visitor in this parently the same, and a faded set of small Seton seldomieuarininieetonleeod: Catbird’s eggs look somewhat like those of Wilson’s Thrush. The nest of this bird is essentially different | from that of the Wood Thrush, inasmuch as it is losely constructed, and contains no mud, jand is placed on the ground or near it. It | breeds in Pennsylvania and Ohio sparingly, and finds its most congenial haunts in New England and to the Northward, . On the 26th of July, 1889, while on a picnic at Lloydsville, Cambria Co., Pa., and not having anything to do, I wandered up the mountain to pick whortleberries. Just as I reached the summit, a bird of the thrush family started up in front of me, and quickly disappeared in the brush-wood. On going to the spot she had left I found a nest and tliree eges. Not deeming identification complete [ 0.80, XII, May.1887 p. 69 marked the spot, and on returning about half an hour later I again flushed the bird, getting a better view of her; her tawny color, together —— with the position and composition of the nest, furnishing identification. As I did not expect to be in the locality again I took the set, though probably incomplete, together with the nest. The latter was placed a few inches above the level of the ground, presumably on the remains he VLE Ma of an old decayed stump; but whatever it was, it was so covered with decayed leaves that it was difficult to tell what the original founda- tion had been. The nest was composed of dried grass, root- lets, dead leaves and a shred-like bark, probably that of the grape-vine. There was no lining whatever, except that in the inside the rootlets predominated slightly. The eggs, as mentioned before, were three a, a pair of Wilson’s The nest was very LV. P, a 2 My two sons in passing 2 Ibid It has long been a problem as to what use could be made of the old tin cans that fruits and vegetables B86 artially solved by By C. O. Tracy. in number, of the usual light greenish-blue color. They measure: .93x.69; .88x.67; .89x.69, and were perfectly fresh, probably being the second set of the season. Lloyd’s station is situated on the side of a spur of the Alleghany mountains, and, accord- ing to the Pennsylvania State Geological Sur- vey report, of Blair Co., is 2,180 feet above tide, the nest being at least 150 feet higher, on the summit of the hill, making the altitude of the nest at least 2,300 feet above tide. This altitude was in all probability chosen by the bird to make up for the difference in latitude between this and its regular breeding local- ities. On another trip, several miles east of this, I noticed a pair of Juncos (Junco hyemalis) ap- parently making ‘‘much ado about nothing,”’ but on closer investigation 1 discovered a young bird lying on the ground, dead. This has no connection with the Wilson’s Thrush, but it may be interesting to know that the Summer Birds ot Junco, although on the high mountains, breeds as far south as latitude 41° 20’. Unfortunately one egg was broken and the Auk, 3, Oct., Singular nesting site of Wilson’s Thrush. The can rested on its side, the birds going in through a small made the discovery that it contained a nest «and three eggs of the above species. hole in the cover (the entire end not having been cut). have been preseryed in, but it is now p Thrushes choosing one to place its nest in. other two badly damaged, but the nest is perfect and the materials are wet and the eggs were addled, evidently having been deserted, owing to the typical of this species.—H. B. BarLey, South g ape kicked an old can lying on the ground when, to their astonishment, they heavy rains in early June. through a piece of woods where this species is quite common, boy-like, Wilson’s Thrush (Turdus fuscescens). 432- a on on o ee ° wn a) o ny Oo Ge c D + S o is o 3 wD oC o = uc} S Ss a) SS) 2 oS a or iI “4 ‘b n o 4 < I~ H a N. Carolina, Johns eee County, Fred O. Koch. Turdus fusces mer visitor; [To the above instance of Wilson’s Thrush early in May. breeding in Pennsylvania, may be added that of aset of four eggs taken May 28, 1887, in O&O. xy Montgomery County, Pa., and now in my cabinet.—J. P. N.] O.20O, XV. May. 1890 DP ~75- —- + Philadelphia, Pa. eens. Wilson's Thrush common above Sum- 3,500 feet. Nests «Feb. 1889 P.23 Birds of Western North Carolina. Wiiliam Brewster, 100. Turdus fuscescens. Wutson’s THrusu. — Abundant over the elevated plateau about Highlands, and scarcely less numerous on the Black Mountains, ranging in both localities from about 3500 to 5000 feet. Like the Wood Thrush this species haunted, by preference, rhododendron thick- ets along streams, and in many of these tangled retreats it was far more numerous than I have ever seen it at the North. Its call-notes were louder, sharper, and more penetrating than those of our New England bird. The song, also, was clearer, more varied, and altogether finer. On the Black Mountains Wilson’s Thrushes abounded in the dense evergreen forest of spruces and balsams at, and for a little distance above, 5000 feet. Two specimens which I shot here are somewhat larger than New England examples, and decidedly browner. Mr. Boynton has re- peatedly found the nest of this species at Highlands, usually in the top of a fallen tree, sometimes on a mound surrounded by water or springy ground. Auk, 8, April, 1886. p.178 For Zurdus fuscescens, size and color are indicated in Zawny Thrush, Little Thrush (Latham), and Merle grivette (Canada —literally ‘‘ Little-Thrush-Blackbird”) ; W¢lson’s Thrush dis- closes its first adequate biographer; Veery (New England) and Yorrick (Thoreau’s Writings) refer to its pleasing note, which they copy. Bi 111, Ny 0.0, 8, Apil. ] ‘ Oy 1 eae Ghee /59S, Press, Mnag 139 4 Combitn , Uh B thick both a ron Gordinn, Me dr Coren Ton say be ob gee ce he i Wn Paes G4 Y Jars (Soa pr aaa bia? wrK< 0 ivan Hhn tro thn Was Eger Vira aa Wes. gun ha (2 Bar od oy EG dea handy Bechet eh eR ph eed rte ae, eae are Ap Ue Ucn prey Te 40" ok wots, pws se ros eng wr boin So Ob tig TH, She FY on Seg eae Org a pparccnion — OA oA War , Aaelnd An Getid ety og Keak ees Ae ww eae O prdivd tot than. si, Shawn se ah ae fore Low G2 Jv bi pA See Re An Gees, yi AW Jo yds, EK ® Orn es OA dn Bere ems 8 eae hoe deel ba 4, hb WAT oe fn Saat fur Ean: fre Ka an hin tld, bake vito Bs tenstot, Gras / Ae Ops’ th TAd hey hiriaks, wr bene (Oasis (Chie, 5 fo ete,/ Rests ab Cate wee: Y ors Dt An, oe na wh Gy Sharm te few haipoore abr re, cae sa toy Yo fordin wrable me flrors. Rds | ie po i, AitOcaks tee Aor | JeAsty, Ce RUE ened af, = prcese LIN. a hope Qanieh bn Prrwsth arch /* ai Morn Bab rp Lr okey Me a rey wise gud Unwensisoty Piece aa a Ax far wihichy oasis ina A. Op proruk Be LE. AEA so Palen Bias = ai eee ae ees Ua ne See os RO hatha Arwen , att Arca (Mab anihe a 3 preg ab Arrtoer Y to gpa by V far z IO INE tare” IP ca >| rf ot “Un, ine my Me was wt oh oth Win m voll A log a7 iy, J hedge ra AA linner 0. th ramrenny yp to BS ba Doury A forguT aaa fr on Fo ON ee Uprnoth bytes UO BA mrdecyrel dae Aa x Pinan Uf ne Weer ate esos aes Sr * WA Wil cy Ak BEN, Seer ak Phck oa, a Yosh par et pe needa Gare hg tot an S tot sal es Pont, yuki ea eee tbe ee | ER Pov Y ott We, Pry hic) Beak wt Rea AS eet Lhe Bd hae tae cs age fe Biecrk eet eon! Meremut ene ae Me. Viiwcipig wr Om Kad, Baan, General Notes. Notes ou Cape Breton Summer Birds. Francis H, Allen. Gray-cheeked Thrush (Yurdus alécte@ or T. a. bicknelli ) (Migrant?) Auk XII, Jan, 1895 p, 90 sae Ceara uaa, Ky ¥ jem: 907. pute. 286. Hylocichla alicie. Gray-cHnEKeD THRusH.— Regular migrant, rare in spring, May 21 to 27 (May 15 to 29, 1906); not uncommon in fall, September 10 to October 18. REMARKS ON FIvE MAINE Birps.—It appears that no formal announce- ment of the occurrence of the Gray-cheeked Thrush (/ylocichla alice) _ in the State of Maine has ever been made, though the course the bird is _ known to pursue in its migrations renders such an announcement of slight importance. It may be stated, however, for the benefit of compilers, that this Thrush is a regular, not very common, spring and fall migrant in southern Maine, reaching Portland in spring about the middle of May, and in autumn about September 20. be Birds of Dead River Region, Mo. F. H.C. 1. Hylocichla alicie, (Grey-cheeked Thrush). Two specimens of this species were secured in June, 18838. They may have been common, but could not be distinguished from the Olive-backed . Thrush unless taken in hand. Some ornitholo- gists decline to recognize this species as distinct from ZT. ustulata swainsona, the writer considering it a debatable question. Both specimens alluded to above were taken along the alder fringed banks of the Carribossett river, and were evidently mi- grating in company with others of same species or the Olive-backed variety. 0.&0. XI, Aug. 1886. p, 14 | 1878. Sept.28. ‘of where I discovered the first. This one Turdus aliciae. Nantucket, Mass. | | Near Eel Point I killed one on the edge of the salt marsh. It rose from the grass like a Sparrow and I shot it flying. on our return shot anGther within a few hune@red yards I saw rise and a- light again and going to the spot I actually stepped over it acs it lay hidden in the short grass. : ; : o —_ tha Ftd Phe... RAL -29* 30+8. Mass. 1885. i Mass. (near Concord ). 1887 | pes a 23 ERCG29) | | ' Mass. (near Cambridge). 1887 in: full. song , A very large bird in nearly full song at 8 A.M. near the AaAhiy a ~ _ Be te oe em ry : 4 1 cabin, Song incistinguishable from that of Bicknell's Thrush 9 so far as I can perceive, Mai Mh oc may y) oA on ; ee The Gray-cheeked Thrush alighted our door step and ——— Ne oe room, Birds of the Adirondack Region, ©.H,Merriam, ~ ‘ 3. Hylocichla aliciz, Bard. GRay-CHEEKED THRUSH. — Occurs during the migrations. I have taken it as late as Juné x1, but am not sure that it breeds. Bull, N.O,0, 6,Qct, 1881, p,226 : fx J Jicter on The beads p Maran Crt hes Gah, urthe. cofgaere2 2 featuse a Eu. a Akeewk CME Be Willen R Vind. 36. Hylocichla alice. Gray-cHEEKED Turusu.—Given only in the hypothetic list. Mr. Miller states that it is not an uncommon migrant at Peterboro. AX, July, 1908 aA A The Singing of Birds. H.P. Bicknell, Turdus aliciz. Gray-cHEEKED THRUSH. To this species almost the same remarks apply as to the last- mentioned, except that it appears disposed to tarry a little longer in the spring; consequently its song may sometimes be heard a few days later. It is occasionally in song with us through the first week of June,—that is, I have heard it up to June 4. I am well satisfied that the songs of the Gray-cheeked and Olive-backed Thrushes are not alike; in fact that they are as dis- tinct from one another as from the songs of the other small Thrushes. During recent seasons particular attention was paid to the songs of these birds, and a clear difference between the songs of individuals of each proved to be constant, so far as limited observation went. As a result of my experience with these birds, I have little hesitation in characterizing the song of the Gray-cheeked Thrush as weaker than that of the Olive- backed, entirely dissimilar in tone, and with a somewhat dif- ferent disposition of the notes. Instead of musically outbursting, it is singularly subdued, and has a far-away and rather ven- triloquial sound. It seems more the expression of some dis- tant emotion revived in memory than of a suddenly felt present emotion which the song of the Olive-backed Thrush suggests. The song of the latter bird is louder, more spontaneous and lyrical. Almost the first note is the loudest and most liquid, after which the melody becomes rapidly fainter, seeming to dissolve upon the air like the spent vibrations of a stringed instrument. The song of the Gray-cheeked Thrush commences low and reaches its loudest, and I think its highest, part a little beyond half its continuance. It is throughout much fainter and of less forcible delivery than the song of the Olive-backed species. Auk, I, April, 1884, p. /30-/3/. Notes- Eggs of Thrushes & Thrashers. H.G. Parker. Gray-cheeked Thrush (Hylocichla aliciw). A bird breeding quite commonly in northern por- tions of the country, but as authentic eggs are seldom seen in private collections, it is enough to say in this connection that they are a deep shade of green marked with russet-brown spots and are about the same size as eggs of Hyloci- chla ustulata swainsont. 0.&0. XII, May.1887 p. 69 (| 290. Turdus aliciw. Gray-cheeked Thrush. /|Common migrant. Found in company with || the next and more common. A few remain | | during the summer to breed. Know of ee ee being found near Minneapolis in 1886. | Nested near the ground like a Wilson’s Thrush, ‘but the eggs were finely sprinkled with black or very dark brown. . ’ 7 2,137 € 2 * ODT, 4 “Do Be pe The first name of Zurdus alicte, Alice’s Thrush, is compli- mentary to Miss Alice Kennicott; the second, Gray-cheeked, is, of course, a color-mark. Bull, N,O.0, 8,Apil. 1888, p, 7-3. Turdus a.bicknelli. Mt. Moosilauke, N.H. & 1894, As. we stood on the ridge of the mountain (we drove up, June 16. reaching the summit at about 9 A.M.) listening to the Bick- nell's Thrushes we heard in the distance below an Olive-backed Thrush singing and still more faintly the song of a Hermit Thrush. Thus all three birds were within hearing at omce but nevertheless the range of the Bicknell's is unquestionably much higher than that of the other two. At its lower limits it overlans by several hundred feet probably the upper limits of the vertical distribution of T.swainsonii. Turdus a.bicknelli. Breezy Point, Warren, N.H. 1894, June 18, A hot, sultry day. We started up the mountain (Mt. “Moosilauke ) at 7.30 A.M., Faxon (W,) walking, Batehelder and I in the wagon, At an elevation of about 3500 ft. we began to hear Bicknell's Thrushes and I got out and joined Faxon in searching for their mests in a very favorable place where there were dense thickets of young firs forming an undergrowth to a wood of spruces and firs, 35 to 40 ft. im height... Two birds were singing here and we started two others which we took to be females but we could find nothing but two old nests poth evidently those of some kind of Thrushes and both built in small firs. We finally became discouraged and started up the road turning into the woods wherever we heard a Bicknell's Thrush singing, and looking awhile for its nest, always vain- ly. The birds were very numerous and usually very tame. In- deed we might have shot eight or ten of them had we wished. Turdus a.bicknelli. Breezy Point, Warren, NiMy Nest and eggs. 1894, June Be. At about 11 A.M. we started down the ridge (we, F.W. Batchelder, W.Faxon and I). Near the point where the road leaves it and descends to the cold spring (we were on the top of Mt.Moosilauke ) I had found, on the 16th, a newly finished put empty nest which there seemed every reason for believing to be that of Bicknell's Thrush as two birds of that subspe- cies, a male and female apparently, were seen near it. The trees male was singing steadily; the female flitied about among the | squawking and showing evident concern when we approached the nest. When we reached the place to-day the birds were silent and invisible but as soon as we came within sight of the nest (it was some 30 yards from the road near the middle of the belt of trees) we at onee, to our great delight, saw the head and tail of the sitting female projecting above its rim. Through our glasses we could make out her head markings dis- tinctly at a distance of about 20 yards. We then cautiously advanced to within ten yards ana looked again long and steadi- ly. The bird sat almost perfectly motionless her tail potnt= ing slightly unward, her head raised rather high with the right cheek turned towards us (SS) regarding us steadily with her large, liquid eye which she occasionally winked ab- ruptly. We could see that the space around the eye was Turdus a.bicknelli. Breezy Point, Warren, N.H. Nest and eggs. 1894. wholly dark and free from buffy but there appeared to be one June 22. small buffy spot well behind the eye on the auriculars. Again (No.2). we advanced to a small dead stub which as we afterwards ascer- tainea by actual measurement was just nine feet from the tree in whieh the nest was plaeed, Although the nest was nine feet above the ground the slope of the mountain side was so steep that our A faces wore now just level with the sitting bird. As no foli- age or twigs intervened we could study her through our glasses quite as critically as if we had held her in our hands and we satisfied ourselves beyond the remotest shadow of doubt that she was a true Bicknell's Thrush. After we had looked as long 8 . as we cared to I stepped down beneath her and reaching up tapped the twigs about the nest with the muzzle of my collect- ing pistol. Even this failed to start her and it was not un- til I shook the tree gently that she finally left the nest. She flew first to a dead tree some ten yards off, gave her plumage a shake and then disappeared among the dense evergreens, For several minutes we did not see her again but at length she appeared above and behind us taking short flights from braneh to branch, approaching us closely when we remained mo-~ tionless, retreating when we stirred: During most of this time she kept perfectly silent but twice or thrice she uttered a succession of low, anxious calls. One of these was the Turdus.a.bicknel ld i. Breezy Point, Warren, N.H. Nest and eggs. 1894, June 22, (No.3). characteristic squawk, another a soft pip or peenk so very like that of T.swainsonii that we could not detect much dif- ference. Neither Faxon or I have ever heard this note before to-day but Faxon heard it just before we left the road and told me that he feared there was an Olive-back in the thicket. Our bird was making it when I finally shot her but she proved to be a Bicknell's Thrush nevertheless. 0On dissecting her afterwarcs I found that she had laid all her eggs, although the set comprised but three. One was perfectly fresh, another had the yelk slightly streaked with blood, in the third an embryo had already begun to form, This would indicate that the bird began sitting as soon as the first egg was laid -a necessary precaution, doubtless, on this cold, exposed moun- tain summit. The nest was built in a balsam about four feet from the ton and nine feet above the ground on a short horizontal branch five inches out from the main stem, It was in no way concealed and could be seen from a distance of several rods on every side. We neither saw nor heard anything of the male bird during this second visit. On the 16th he was singing a- pout 20.yards from the nest, The woods were composed wholly of balsams with a mixture of yellow birehes, Along the upper edge of the belt where the wind has an unobstructed sweep over Turdus a.bieknelli. Breezy Point, Warren, N.H, Nest and eggs. the crest of the ridge the trees were stunted and matted to- gether but those about the uest were twelve to fifteen feet in heigt# and of nearly normal habit although if, as is pos- sible, they were of considerable age, they were of course much dwarfed. We could find no spruces in these woods. They do not appear, indeed, until several mmdred feet lower down. Later in the day - after lunching at the cold spring where we were assailed by swarms of Iimgry black flies - Paxon and I walked down the mountain to Merrill's, stopping for an hour or more at the nlace where we saw four Bicknell's Thrushes on the 18th, and searching long and carefully for their nests anong the dense thickets of young balsams which form an under- srowth to a rather open woods of comparatively large 40 ft. in heigtf\) spruces and balsams. We heard one Bicknell's Thrush singing and another calling among the balsams but we found only one old nest, the third which we have seen here, All three were in balsam saplings, the lowest only two feet, the highest about seven feet, above the ground on the lateral branches close to the main stems, In the woods where I took the nest with eggs we foune an old nest, evidently a Thrush's and doubtless a Bicknell's Thrush's, near the end of a hori- zontal branch about three feet from the ground and five feet from the trunk of the tree. The branch extended out into an Turdus a.picknelli. Breezy Point, Warren, NvH. Nest and eggs. open space and no one could have passed it without seeing the est. On the 18th Bicknell's Thrushes were singing or calling everywhere during the entire time we were on the upper part of the mountain. To-day they were strangely silent. We heard w only two or three singing and not more than five or six call- ing. The usual call resembles at a distance the poop of Chor- deiles; near the phew of the Veery. One bird on the 18th clucked exactly like a Hermit Thrush. Turdus a.bicknelli. Breezy Point, Warren, N.H. Nest. 1894, June 26, W.Faxon and I started up the mountain (NMt.Moosilauke ) this morning, reaching the summit at about 10 A.M. Faxon went down the slope while I kent along the ridge above the spring. I found a Thrush's nest unquestionably belonging to I.pick- nelli in a low spreading balsam near the crest of the ridge. It was searce two feet above the ground on a short lateral pranch close against the main stem which curved out directly ee over it | shielding it very effectually from the weather. Although evidently a new nest it was dismantled the lining having been lately pulled out by something. + was largely composed of green moss and in every way closely resembled the nest with eggs that I took on the end. (W.Paxon spent last night on the top of Mt.Moosilauke ). He had a most interesting time but brought no birds nor eggs of any kind. The Bicknell's Thrushes sang finely all over the upper parts of the mountain last evening. Their concert was at its height at S P.M. and the last bird was heard at 8.20. Turdus a. bicknelli. Is94,. New Hampshire, @ $$ sJme I6, Mt. Moosilauke, As we stood on the ridge of the mountain listening to the Bicknell's Thrushes we heard in the distance below an Olive-backed Thrush singing and still more faintly the song of a Hermit Thrush, Thus all three birds were in hearing at once but nevertheless the range of the Bicknell‘s is unquestionably much higher than that of the other two, At its lower limits it overlaps by several hundred feet probably the upper limits of the vertical distribution of fT. Swainsoni, New Hampshire Junets, Breezy Point, Warren, At an elevation of about 3500 feet we began to hear Bicknell's Thrushes and I got out and joined Faxon in searehing for their nests in a very favorable place where there were dense thickets of young firs forming an undergrowth to a woods of spruces and firs 35 to 40 feet in height, Two birds were singing here and we starte ed two others which we took to be females but we could find nothing but two old nests both evidently those of some kind of Thrushes and #, poth built in small firs, We finally became discouraged and starte ed up the road turning into the woods wherever we heard a Bicknell‘s Thrush singing and looking awhile for its nest, always vainly. The birds were very numerous and usually very tame, Indeed we might have shot eight or ten of them had we wished, 2 furdus a. bicknellis I894, New Hampshire a June 22, Breezy Point, Warren, Near the point where the road leaves the ridge and descends to the cold spring I had found on the I6th, a newly finished but empty nest which there seemed every reason for pelieving to be that of Bicknelits Thrush as two birds of this subspecies, a male and female apparently, werejy'seen near it. The male was singing steadia ly; the female flitted about among the trees squawking and showing evident concern when we approached the nest, When we reached the place to-day the birds were silent and invisible but as soon as we came in sight of the nest (it was some 50 yards from the road near the middle pf the belt of trees) we at once, to our great delight, saw the head and tail of the sitting female projecting above its rim, Through our glasses we could make out her head markings distinetly at a distance of about 20 yards We then cautiously advanced to within ten yards and looked again long and steadily The bird sat almost perfectly motionless her tail pointing slightly upward, her head raised rather high with the right cheek turned towards us,( ) regarding us steadily with her large, Liquia eye which she; occasionally winked abruptly. We could see that the space around the eye was wholly dagk and free from puffy but there appeared to - one sinall buffy spot well behind the eye on the auriculars, Again we advanced to a small dead stub which as we afterwards ascertained by actual measurement was just nine feet from the tree in which the t@et was placed, Although the 3 Turdus a.» bicknelli. I8s94, New Hampshire, @ June 22, Breezy Point,Waren, nest was nine feet aboye the ground the slope of the mountain side was so steep that our faces were now just level with ibe sitting bird, As no foliage or twigs intervened we could study her through our glasses quite as critically as if we had held her in our hands and we satisfied ourselves beyond the remotest shadow of doubt thai she was a Bicknell‘s Thrush, After we had looked as long as we cared to I stepped down beneath her and reaching up tapped the twigs about the nest with the muzzle of my collecting pistol, Even this failed to start her and it was not until I shook the tree gently that she finally left the nest. She flew first to a dead tree some ten yards off, gave her plumage a shake and then dis= appeared among the dense evergreens, For several minutes we did not see her again but at length she appeared above and behind us taking short flights from branch to branch, approaching us closely when we remained uencaatln Wows olieee.: retreating when we stirred, During most of this time she Kept perfectly silent but twice or thrice she uttered a succession of low anxious calls. One of these was the characteristic squawk, another a soft pip or peenk so very like that of 2. swainsonii that we could not detect much difference Neither Faxonvor I have ever heard this note pefere to-day put Faxon heard it just before we left the road and told me that he feared that there was an Olive-back in the thicket. Our bird was making it when I finally shot her but she proved to be a Bicknell's 4 Turdus a. bicknelli. Is94,. New Hampshire, & une 22, Breezy Point, Warren, Thrush nevertheless, On dissecting her afterwards I found that she had laid all her eggs although the set comprised but three, One was perfectly fresh, another had the yolk slightly streaked with blood., in the third an embryo had already begtm to form, This would indicate that the bird began sitting as soon as the first egg was laid-- a necessary precaution, doubtless on this cold, exposed Mountain swumit, nest was built in a balsam about four feet from the top and nine feet above the ground on a short horizontal branch five inches out from the main stem, It was in no way concealed and could be seen from a distance of several rods on every side. We & neither saw nor heard anything of the male bird during this second visit. On the I6th he was singing about 20 yards from the nest, The woods were composed wholly of balsams with a mixture of yellow bireches, Along the upper edge of the belt where the wind has an une» obstructed sweep over the crest of the ridge the trees were stunted and matted together, but those about the nest were twelve to fifteen feet in height and of nearly normal habit although if, as is possia bie, they pret considerable age, they yeveree course very much dwarfed, We could find no spruces in these woods they do not appear, indeed until several Hamdred feet lower down, Later in the day--after lunehing at the cold spring where we werec attacked 5 Turdus a. bicknelli, I894, New Hampshire, a, Breezy Point, Warren, by swarms of hungry black flies-- Faxon and I walked down the moun- tain to Merrill's, stopping for an hour or more at the place where we saw four Bicknell‘s Thrushes on the I8th, and searehing long and carefully for their nests among the dense thickets of young balsams which form an undergrowth to a rather open woods of comparatively large (30 to 40 feet in height) spruces and balsams, We heard one Bicknell's Thrush singing and another calling among the baléams, but we found only one old nest, the third which we have seen heres All three were in balsam saplimgs,( the lowest only two feet, the ; ) highest about seven feet, above the gpound)(on the lateral branches close to the main stems } In the woods where I took the nest with eggs we found an old nest, evidently a Thrush!s, near the end of a horizontal branch about three feet from the ground and five feet from the trunk of the tree. The branch extended eut into an open space and no one could have passed it without seeing the nest, On the 18th Bicknell‘s Thrushes were singing or calling every= where during the entire time we were on the upper pert of the mouns tain, To-day they were strangely silent. We heard only two or three singing and not more than five or six calling. The usual call resembled at a distance the paap of Chordielé@s;near the pheu of the Veery, One bird on the I8th clucked exactly like a Hermit Thrush Turdus aliciae bicknelli, I895,. New Hampshire, June 5,Breezy Point-—Warren, Ar 8,20 P.M, evening cloudy, the mountains enveloped in clouds to their bases and invisible-the wind light from the easte the Faxons and I were walking slowly up the road leading from Baker's River high bridge to the hotel when we heard the song of a Bicknell's Thrush, At first we supposed the bird to be in the woods on our left (to the south, ) and about 400 yds off but I5 seconds later the song came with startling distinetness from nearly overhead, Another quarter minute passed and the bird sang a third time in the distance towards the north. We became now convinced that all three songs were given on wing and that the bird was flying (probably high up) directly towards Mt. Moosetanke It must have been migrating at the time and could not have come more than 20 or 30 miles as it had had barely half-anshour of darkness, Was it one of the Moosilanke colony on its way to the breeding ground? There was something particularly weird and thrilling in the incisive, wing song coming stddenly to our ears from the gloomy mist enshrouded sky that overhung the dark silent dprrte forest. Although the song was normal in form there was something in its quality which convinced us all that the bird was flying. Men flr 2b tm yp 27th OF cartyat SU enicate I hem Prove jhe Fire pu PUL prugtecn, fbn later ata 9 /- Teas panLag Care ae Crlitparttittkh ZA s Bich ve Ptiwere Oe Oe 47. Th. Pirryury eins (lipo) atu VOU A4OF, jitt fLet 4 pene FPemaimtt ag ages etre. FAT A Le pee (ALECACE __ Vitflhy Fiotenele! oe Z see I 1 cael Gy ee 4tszit th. fr ra ee On fee YE. bok , Brrele phe Bay Camacho, Lrari Part WHO ees Wg scberaah ab Ahk, xy, 904, 1907, fr B% 32. Hylocichla aliciz bicknelli. BrickNrLu’s TarusH.— Mr. Ridgway | has recognized one bird from Toronto, and two from Hamilton as inter- mediate in size between this form and alicie, but near bicknelli in color. Auk, XV, Jan., 1898, py».60o7. Bicknell’s Thrush on Mt. Ktaadn, Maine.— On June 22 and 23, 1897, I made a short visit to Mt. Ktaadn, Maine, partly for the purpose of orni- thological observation. On the 22d I heard three Bicknell’s Thrushes (Turdus alicte bicknell?) singing. along the Southwest Slide, and on the 23d I heard the same three and two more besides, one pretty well up the Slide and the other on fave Table Band at an Cannas of a few hundred feet lower than the top of the highest peak (5,215 feet). Unfortunately I was unable to obtain a specimen, but a familiarity with the song of this bird acquired in the White Mountains and during the migrations, leaves no doubt whatever in my own mind of the identification. This subspecies has never been reported from Maine, I believe, though it is included in the ‘hypothetical’ list in Mr. Ora W. Knight’s recent list of Maine birds. The only other birds noted on the mountain which I did not also find in the lowlands about there were Dendroica striata, which were common along the Slide, and Dendragapus canadensis, one female of which I observed on the Slide. Ktaadn affords but little cover for birds, the upper three thousand feet being for the most part very steep and rocky, giving no chance for trees. The trees along the Slide are almost entirely decidu- ous, and no coniferous woods were. to be seen at any height except those in the great South Basin on the northeast side of the mountain, about 2300 feet below the highest summit or about 3000 feet above sea-level. It is quite possible that these Basin woods may have contained some more northern forms, but I was unable to visit them. Some one should go there in the breeding season. ‘The Basin is best visited from the east side. The scrub firon the Table Land harbored Turdus alicte bicknelld and Zonotrichia albicollts, and doubtless Juzco hyemalis too, but it is too low to make very good cover.— Francis H. ALLEN, West Leoxbury, Mass. = Keb th fet PP Caco ply Mele, b jlo k Wer htorcBo, toeb. tno Witm. yob, Loom Wea, Zietee anit feast oOeee Aa Kapos leny ee! Tic Y fox 6, fer, TE en i, owt abn pecheve, boli We SAVE wth forte (fry ee, A as a (pfrep aL, 4550 fut), EN Ay Oe a Oe ED ae 300 fT aber hn S format Toran frat i. $1, ores Bds,. Obs. in Franconia N.H, 5 786, and June4- Aug. § 7, Pe ata any 83. Turdus aliciz bicknelli. BricKNeELL’s THRUsH.—Common on Mt Lafayette, about the Eagle Lakes; also heard on Mt. Cannon a Auk, V. April, 1888, p.153 Summer Birds of Presidential Range White Mts. Lo Cundvoatae. : 4. From 3500 feet to the limit of stun ; ted firs and spruces, 7. a. bz y __ is the most abundantey Ya UWranr hes. / ; ae Auk, 4, April 1887, p.108 Summer Birde of Presidential Range, White Mte. A.P, Chadbourne 44. Turdus alicie bicknelli. BICKNELL’S Turusu.—Found from an altitude of 3000 feet to the limit of stunted spruces about four feet high, 4340 feet in Tuckerman’s Rayine being the highest point at which it was noted. In the neighborhood of our camp in the Great Gulf (3140 feet) it was less plenty than 7. ustulatus swainsontt, though not to any great extent; but at 4100 feet in Tuckerman’s Ravine it outnumbered it nearly three to one. Bicknell’s Thrush was most abundant, however, in the woods opposite the Half-way House and for about half a mile below it. A young bird in full first plumage was taken on July 12, 1884. Auk, 4, April 1887. p.107 pope 20 - if rae suf a te hel j0—— om 5 Bds,. Obs. in Franconia, N.H. J : . Py n ; * «Ty 1- 86, and June4- Aug. 1,’87, Fale oy 83. Turdus aliciz bicknelli. 1 BIcKNELL’s THRUSH.—C aoa s .-—Common Lafayette, about the Eagle Lakes; also heard on Mt. Cannon ee Auk, V. April, 1888. p.153 Summer Birds of Presidential Range, White Mts. ‘A.P, Chadbourne 4. From 3500 feet to the limit of stunted firs and s Z : ‘ f a spruces, Z. a. bicknell is the most abundant#y Uk rns few. ee Auk, 4, April 1887, p,10© Summer Birde of Presidential Range, White Mts. A.P, Chadbourne 44. Turdus alicie bicknelli. BICKNELL’S TuRusH.—Found from an altitude of 3000 feet to the limit of stunted spruces about four feet high, 4340 feet in Tuckerman’s Ravine being the highest point at which it was noted. In the neighborhood of our camp in the Great Gulf (3140 feet) it was less plenty than 7. ustulatus swainsonit, though not to any great extent; but at 4100 feet in Tuckerman’s Ravine it outnumbered it nearly three to one. Bicknell’s Thrush was most abundant, however, in the woods opposite the Half-way House and for about half a mile below it. A young bird in full first plumage was taken on July 12, 1884. Auk, 4, April 1887. p.107 | LO Mathrrylem, 4M EE hee Oe i eh Se Bicknell’s Thrush | in Franconi (1912) a friend and myself found a t (Hylocichla alicie bicknelli) on Mt. P. elevation of 3,300 ft. On June 29, 1913, we found them 2800 ft., which is on top of one of the spurs of Cannon. ing males and saw one bird singing at a range of ten feet was also present. We did not see them here last year. the path in a mixed growth of fir, a Notch, N. H. — Last summer hriving colony of Bicknell’s Thrush emigewasset, New Hampshire, at an at Lonesome Lake, We noted six sing- . The Olive-back They were near balsam, and spruce, yellow and black birch, rock maple and mountain ash.— Arion Corny, Plainfield, N. J. jae Ost, 1912. DSRS, sv, Bicknell’s Thrush Breeding in Vermont.— Now that ZTurdus alicie bicknelld has been reported as a summer resident on Mount Graylock. Massachusetts, as well as in the Catskills and the White Mountains, it may not be amiss for me to enter a somewhat tardy record of its presence in the Green Mountains. In July, 1885, I passed four days (14th to 17th) on Mount Mansfield, and found Bicknell’s Thrushes abundant in the ever- greens about the hotel. From the piazza, one evening, I heard six sing-’ ing at once, and during the day their calls were so persistent as to become almost a nuisance. After my return to Boston the clerk of the hotel sent me a young bird in the flesh, and the specimen is now in Mr. Brewster’s collection.— BRADFORD Torrey, Melrose Highlands, Massachusetts. Auk, V1. April; 1889. p. 194, 82. Hylocichla aliciz bicknelli BickNELL’s THrusH.— This is the commonest and most characteristic species at the summit of the moun- tain. It is really abundant in the extensive tracts of stunted firs and spruces surrounding the northern peak (‘The Nose’) and its range extends down into the upper edge of the tall timber —to about 3000 feet altitude — where it overlaps the range of the Olive-back. During the seven trips that I made to the summit, I was constantly on the alert for a sight of the birds, and although I frequently heard them all about me, so shy were they that I saw them probably less than a dozen times. The glimpses I had of them were either at long range, or cut short by the sudden departure of the bird into the dense cover of the evergreens, so that close study of their habits was impossible. This was in marked contrast to the experience of Mr. Bradford Torrey, who visited the mountain in 1885. He says they were “ never out of hear- ing.and seldom long out of sight, even from the door step.” His visit, however, was at the time the young were leaving the nest, while I was there during the period of incubation, which may account for the ditter- ence in their familiarity. His surmise, based on the testimony of a friend, that the birds had left the mountain the following year would seem to be disproved by my experience. It is very improbable that a species so well established would entirely desert a favorable locality for no apparent cause; it seems more likely that his friend for some reason had overlooked them. They sing at any time of day, though most frequently toward evening. The song is quite unlike any of the other thrush songs, resembling the Veery’s somewhat in form, though not in quality of tone, which is like that of a fine, high-pitched reed. It is not so loud, or so clear as either the Olive-back’s or the Veery’s, and unlike the former, does not change its pitch perceptibly. The syllables wed¢-d-wee-G-weé-chi-chi-weé, whistled through the closed teeth, will give a faint conception of its character. The opening notes, wee-a, repeated two or three times, are smooth and flowing, and are followed by two staccato notes; the closing note resembles the opening ones, and is without special emphasis. The last three notes taken together form the characteristic portion of the song, and are frequently given by themselves without the prelude. Iam aware that the above description of the song differs in some respects from that given by Mr. Brewster, but it is not at all remarkable that the birds of another colony should sing a somewhat: different song. The call note, which is frequently uttered, sometimes from a lofty perch, though usually in the thicket, is arather harsh cheep. I did not hear the Veery note, Phew, spoken of by Mr. Brewster. 1The Foot-Path Way, p. 95, 1896. 1346. -_—— 7 - — “ | 70 pecdot bilindl: Wet. 5!) 7H wrasse. 1885. Bds, Obs. near Graylock Mt. Berkshire Co, Mass. Juns28-July1s. W,Faxon 76. Turdus alicie bicknelli. BickNELL’s GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH. On the third of July I visited the summit of Graylock, for the first time under favorable conditions of weather. I had barely reached the top when the chant of Bicknell’s Thrush was heard issuing from the thick growth of spruces, firs, and mountain ashes that skirt the clearing. The singer was perched upon oneof the larger spruces, perhaps twenty feet from the ground. AsI approached nearer he darted into the dense undergrowth of hobble-bushes and mountain maples. He proved to be so shy that it was not until my second subsequent visit to the mountain top (July 6) that I succeeded in shooting him. I therefore had ample opportunity to hear the song at short distance, for the bird was not chary of song when well concealed by intervening tree-trunks and foliage. The song is very much like that of Wilson’s Thrush in quality of tone, but quite different in form. In neither regard does it bear any close resemblance to the song of Swainson’s Thrush. It is intro- duced by two or three low clucks only to be heard at a short distance, which seem to the listener to be involuntary, mechanical sounds, like those that precede the song of the Whip-poor-will. The bird was shot while singing. The alarm or call-note of this species resembles the Veery’s, although distinguishable. It is entirely different from the abrupt whistle of the Olive-back. All of the Hylocichle are as readily distinguished by their call-notes as by their proper songs. WhatI take to be the equivalent note of the Hermit Thrush is not the low chuck com- monly heard while the bird is on its migration, but a peculiar sound which always suggests to me a Finch rather than a Thrush. The Bicknell’s Thrush on Graylock remained in the same place to my knowledge for four days in early July, in constant song. I do not doubt, therefore, that its nest was near by. The condition ofits testes, moreover, denoted a breeding bird. I failed to find a nest, however, nor did I see or hear another specimen although I visited the summit of Graylock on five subsequent days and carefully explored the other high points of the range. Auk, Wl. April, 1889, p.106 uk, RIL Oct. , 1895, pp: 372-3 Tugdus_alicice bickneptaid Otoéoris alpestris p' mee as Summer Residents of Berkshire County, Mass.— In 1889 (Auk, VI, 106) I recorded the capture of Bicknell’s Thrush on the summit of Mt. Graylock in early July, 1888, under circumstances which led me to believe that the bird bred there. This year I passed the night of June 29-30 on the top of Graylock and was again greeted, both in the evening and in the morning, by the beautiful song of this Thrush,—the song so admirably character- ized by Mr. John Burroughs in ‘Riverby,’ pp. 47, 49. A hasty search for the nest in the midst of a drenching rain on the morning of the 30th proved unavailing; but the anxiety manifested by the bird when I invaded his domain confirmed my belief that this Thrush breeds on Graylock. ts doe SS ™~ te b) Ween tc oe Z I, Aer Mee cage " PMA A alee OG), Hylocichla alicie bicknelli. Greylock on the 18th, Ripewatd Neher Hainer, (- : Kou LK, Varo, One heard calling on the Summit of Mt. XIX, Oct., 180 1 PRO i THIRD ADDENDUM TO THE PRELIMINARY LIST OF BIRDS ASCERTAINED TO OCCUR IN THE ADIRONDACK REGION, NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK.* BY C. HART MERRIAM, M. D. 206. Turdus aliciz bicknelli. BickNeLi’s TurusH.—In my cabinet is a specimen of this recently described Thrush which I shot in Lewis County, near the western border of the Adirondacks, May 24, 1878. It is a male of the preceding year and its scapulars still show several (four on one side and one on the other) of the light tear-shaped spots so characteristic of immaturity in this group of Thrushes. Following are its measure- ments :— No. 1873 (Mus. C. H. M.) one year old, Lewis County, New York, May 24, 1878. Length, 174 mm. (6.85 in.); extent, 293 mm. (11.53 in.) ; wing, 92.25 mm. (3.63 in.) ; tail, 7o. mm. (2.75 in.) ; culmen from feathers, 12.50 mm. (.50 in.); culmen from base, 17 mm. (.66 in.); depth of bill at nostrils, 3.75 mm. (.15 in.); tarsus, 28.50 mm. (1.13 in.). A It will thus be seen that this individual is smaller than the average of the males of Mr. Bicknell’s type specimens taken in the Catskills,* and is also smaller than those killed by Mr. Brewster on Mt. Washington.+ Auk, {, Jan,, 1884, p. * For the original list and first and second addenda, see Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol, VI, No. 4, Oct. 1881, pp. 225-235; Vol. VII, No. 2, April 1882, p. 128; Vol. VII, No. 4, Oct. 1882, pp. 256-257. < S 3 3) 8 Y < R 3 ° 8 op A wa ie} & qa Lo 3 q s 1) Lo &o I ° eI =] ° | E a A a | @o a od =) = fa me ° oe a i ° ° o a a a wa a - a A Li bF y/o zx, wring, IL y Tat, 268) Tea LM / Cub oern (Halll ra al “orting Ae | Foe AS So ae Ye Fon by beck eliel om Wnruegy V Te pegerbirns » Oued henidratl, frrtirons/ @ wench Come fhe OT pry earthen bbl hedey Y bght ules, brotiimr mity by 6 thee X than wborn Un ye, bt teeth fesnBeniny tans v Pe coir Teese By btiren Mattonr Hon on A borat ore, (DZ; Yae. tla LEA. Coney f Bae, We a ete S lbhecey . Cig ile. Piaide 4 °7 Lhe. fury Vee ape, 3 3a. Hylocichla alicize bicknelli Ridgw. BICKNELL’s Turusu.— roc. U. S. Nat: Mus., Vol. IV, 1882, p. 377. (Breeding on the Catskill Mts., New York.) Bali, N,2.9, BicKNELL’s Turusu (Turdus alicte bicknellit.) — Since my previous records of this bird (Auk, Vol. X, p. 91), I have discovered four addi- tional specimens. Three of them are in the Brooklyn Institute collection, and were collected at Parkville, Kings Co., L. I, by E. F. Carson and Frank Suydam — two of them on Oct. 12, 1892, the other Sept. 30, 1893. Dr. Wm. C. Braislin, of Brooklyn, also has a specimen which he has permitted me to record, collected by himself at Parkville on Oct. 3, 1894. — ArTHouR H. Howe 1, Washington, D. C. z, XVI, Jan., 1899, p. 9 ed line between the two counties mentioned, are the Mud Islands and Seal Islands. These are almost entirely covered with a low growth of evergreens — black spruce and balsam fir. Except the Robin, the Song Sparrow, the Snowbird, and a few Redstarts and Winter Wrens, almost the only small Jand-birds breeding here are the Black-poll Warbler and Bicknell’s Thrush Puget Sound, Apri 15, 1850; Ur. Geo. Suckley, U. 5. A-): Upper parts, in general, rather deep vinaceous, the back, scapulars, and rump, how- ever, more grayish brown, very broadly and conspicuously streaked arin brownish black. Lower parts pale yellow, or yellowish white, becoming nearly pure white on flanks and crissum. The usual black areas on head and jugulum. Wing, 3-80; tail, 2.60; culmen, -453; tarsus, -75- Adult &, in winter (No. 80477; Yuba Co., California, February 18775 L. Belding): Similar to No. 8734, but upper parts more obscured by brownish (the dark streaks of dorsal region very heavy and distinct, how- ever), and yellow of lower parts much deeper, the whole surface posterior to the jugular patch being light primrose-yellow, except the crissum, which is white; black jugular patch and that on fore part of crown slightly broken by very narrow pale yellowish tips to feathers. Wing, 4.00; tail, 2.80; culmen, .40; tarsus, 80. Adult 2, in spring (No. 8733; U- 5: Nat. Mus. Ft. Steilacoom, March 20,1856; Dr. Geo. Suckley): Lesser wing-coverts bright cinnamon; mid- was Bicknell’s ‘Vhrush, lately identified in the Catskill and in the White Mountains, and named in honor of its discoverer. It was so abundant, and not particularly shy for a Thrush, that I had the most ample opportunity for the study of its habits; and sev- eral specimens were secured and retained. Next to its lesser size, in structural peculiarity, is its ‘slender, depressed, and finely curved bill, compared with which that of the typical Olive-back seems thick and clumsy. While singing, which occurred through- out the day, but more especially in the evening twilight and early morning, the bird delighted to perch in the top of the evergreens, often on the very tip, where its bright, brown figure, with elevated head, was quite conspicuous. On the ground and in taking its food, its habits were precisely like those of other Thrushes. To find the nest of this species was my great desideratum ; and though the bird was so numerous, it was by no means an easy task. Many an hour did I thread my way through almost im- penetrable evergreen thickets before I could secure the much BICKNELL’S THRUSH. BY REV. J: H. LANGILLE. oe the south-west end of Nova Scotia ae ee Counties, is a large Reuibes of islands — one for e PAPERS has ae say. On leaving the harbor of A es any: Tete : the westward and well out mney BS Rock. Then comes the Tusket Is- i cam ie, ang of varied size, form and appear- g partly cultivated, some wholly wooded outermost almost as as smooth as a lawn; th rT S Bald Tuskets. ie Opposite Yarmouth at sea, are and the are called the Farthest : 2 out at sea, and very nearly on an extend- ed line between the two counties mentioned, are the Mud Islands and Seal Islands. These are almost entirely covered with a low growth of evergreens — black spruce and balsam fir. Except the Robin, the Song Sparrow, the Snowbird, and a few Redstarts and Winter Wrens, almost the only small land-birds breeding here are the Black-poll Warbler and Bicknell’s Thrush —the last two being very abundant. This Thrush (the Black-poll I have described) was wholly new tome. My attention was first arrested by its call or alarm note, which sounded like cree-e-e-e-eep, or guee-a, OY cr ee-e-e-€e, on a rather fine, high key. It had some resemblance to the call of Wilson’s Thrush, but was unmistakably different; and as Mr. Brewster has noted (Bull. N. O. Club, Vol. Wale pe e28) eis very particularly different from the sharp liquid pzp or peenk of the typical Olive-back. The song, 7s¢derea, tsederea, tsidirea, sometimes ¢s¢dzrea, rea, tsiderea, or some other modulation of the same theme, is similar in tone to that of Wilson’s Thrush, but more slender and wirey, and therefore not nearly so musical and grand. In the solitude of its evergreen islands, however, this bird is by no means an inferior songster, the sibilant tones of its voice being finely relieved by certain more prolonged and liquid vibrations. A careful examination satisfied me that the bird was Bicknell’s Thrush, lately identified in the Catskill and in the White Mountains, and named in honor of its discoverer. It was so abundant, and not particularly shy for a Thrush, that I had the most ample opportunity for the study of its habits; and sev- eral specimens were secured and retained. Next to its lesser size, in structural peculiarity, is its slender, depressed, and finely curved bill, compared with which that of the typical Olive-back seems thick and clumsy. While singing, which occurred through- out the day, but more especially in the evening twilight and early morning, the bird delighted to perch in the top of the evergreens, often on the very tip, where its bright, brown figure, with elevated head, was quite conspicuous. On the ground and in taking its food, its habits were precisely like those of other Thrushes. To find the nest of this species was my great desideratum ; and though the bird was so numerous, it was by no means an easy task. Many an hour did I thread my way through almost im- penetrable evergreen thickets before I could secure the much BREWSTER on Bicknell’s Thrush in New England. | January BICKNELL’S THRUSH (7TURDUS ALICIl4 BICK- NELL1) IN NEW ENGLAND. BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. Upon reading Mr. Bicknell’s article in the July number of this Bulletin (pp. 152-159) it occurred to me that his new Thrush must breed on our New England mountains as well as among the Catskills. This conviction was strengthened, shortly after- wards, by a letter shown me by Mr. Purdie, in which the writer, Mr. Bradford Torrey of Boston, asked if Turdus alicte was known to summer among the White Mountains, he having heard a Thrush there which he felt sure was neither the Wilson’s, the Olive-backed, nor the Hermit. Acting upon the double hint I took an early opportunity to look for the interesting bird, with the following result. On the afternoon of July 19, 1882, I started up the Mt. Wash- ington carriage-road from the Glen House, in company with Mr. Walter Deane and Mr. James J. Greenough of Cambridge. At first our choice of a time proved unfortunate, for a succession of heavy showers prevented us from exploring the dripping thickets by the way, and forced us to push on as rapidly as possible, so that we reached the summit, shortly after dark, without having shot a bird of any kind. Thrushes were heard at various points, however, and the peculiar notes of a few met with near the Half- way House led us to hope that our quest would not prove in vain. The following was one of those rare mornings that moun- tain climbers long for but seldom get. The sky was cloudless, and as the sun rose above the horizon its rays gilded the snowy banks of fog that marked the courses of distant rivers, and, touch- ing the eastern sides of the surrounding mountains, bathed every rugged slope and beetling precipice in a flood of light, the brighter from its contrast with the gloom that still enveloped their western sides and shrouded the mysterious depths of dark ravines far below. ‘The keen, almost frosty morning air rustled among the scant vegetation, and an occasional stronger puff heralded the coming blasts which, with other retainers of Winter’s train, are 1883. ] BREWSTER on Bicknell’s Thrush in New England. 13 never quite banished from these elevated regions, even during mid-summer. But time was precious, and barely pausing to admire the grandeur of the scenery that surrounded us we began the descent, my companions botanizing, while I watched closely for birds. On the very summit—or at least less than a hundred feet below it— Snowbirds (¥unco héiemalis) were twittering among the rocks, but no other species were observed until near the end of the third mile, when the clear notes of a White-throated Sparrow rose from a thicket of dwarf birches (Betula glandulosa) and blueberry bushes ( Vaccinium cespitosum) by the roadside. A few hundred yards further down we heard a Nashville Warbler singing in a sheltered hollow among some black spruces (Adzes nigra), the tallest of which were barely four feet high. His pres- ence in such a spot was a forcible illustration of the law that Nature fills all her waste places, for surely he might have found a more congenial home among his kindred in the forests below. Down to this point we had seen no trace of Thrushes of any kind, and indeed thé evergreens were nowhere numerous or high enough to afford them suitable shelter. But about a third of a mile above the Half-way House, or nearly four miles, by the carriage-road, from the summit, and at an elevation of (approx- imately) 4000 feet, we came to a tract of firs (Adzes balsamtfera) and spruces (A. xigra) that seemed to promise better results. This thicket covered three or four acres of a comparatively level portion of the mountain, and extended down the face of an al- most sheer precipice to the bed of West Branch in the “Gulf of Mexico” below. Over the level area the trees attained a height of about ten feet. They averaged perhaps four inches in diam- eter at their bases and their tops were matted and spreading. The ground beneath was moderately open, entirely free from under- growth, and deeply carpeted with a yellowish-olive moss over which were thickly sprinkled the clover-like leaves of the wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) and, more sparingly, graceful star flowers (7rientalis americana) and beautiful Clintonias ( Clin- tonia borealis), the latter still bearing their greenish-yellow blossoms. In the immediate vicinity, but not actually under the shade of the trees, we found Pyrus americana, Betula papyra- cea (four or five feet high), Amelanchicr canadensts oligocarpa (three or four feet in height), Ledum latifolium, Cornus cana- T4 Brewster on Bicknell’s Thrush in New England. [ January densts, Vaccintum vitis-idea, Salix cutlert, Arenarta gran- landica, Solidago virga-aurea alpina (with flowers on the point of opening), and Smdlacina bifolia. Around the outskirts of this Alpine wood the trees were shrubby and often so densely matted that it was impossible to penetrate them, but in the interior one could wall with compar- atively little difficulty. As I picked my way between the stems, carefully avoiding the many dangerous holes and crevices con- cealed beneath the mossy floor, I was forcibly reminded of similar forests on the bleak shores of Lab -ador. The few sunbeams that penetrated among the branches had a pale, wintry cast, and at intervals the rising wind sighed drearily in the trees. Alto- gether there was about the place an air of rugged—almost savage wildness, in fit keeping with the grandeur of the surrounding scenery. In this shaggy forest Thrushes were singing and calling on every side, and in the course of an hour or two I managed to secure three specimens, one of which was a typical Olive-back, while the other two, to my great delight, proved to be the birds of which we were in search ; vzz., representatives of the small southern race of 7. alicie lately named by Mr. Ridgway in honor of its discoverer, Mr. Bicknell, and until now known only from Riverdale on the Hudson and the Catskill Mountains of New York. Although the specimens just mentioned were the only ones actually taken, we saw and heard many others, both at the point already described, and further down the mountain, in the vicinity of the Half-way House. Nor were opportunities wanting for comparing the voice and habits of the new bird with those of its near relative 7. swainsonz, both being frequently found together in the same thicket, although the Bicknell’s Thrushes were the more numerous throughout the region of stunted spruces, while the Olive-backs predominated in the heavy timber below. The song of Bicknell’s Thrush is exceedingly like that of Swainson’s; indeed, to my ear, the usual strain, though rather feebler, was neatly indistinguishable ; but occasionally — per- haps on the average once in the course of five or six repeti- tions—a peculiar, and apparently perfectly characteristic bar was interpolated. This was a flute-like per-psetieo-psetieo given quickly and in a tone which, at a little distance, closely resem- 1883. Brewster on Bicknell’s Thrush in New England. 1s bled that of the Solitary Vireo’s well-known voice. The respec- tive call-notes of the two birds, however, were radically different. That of Z. swacnsond is a musical pzp or peenk as liquid in tone as the sound of dropping water. The call of bicknell?, on the contrary, was harsh and far from pleasing. Usually it was a single loud, penetrating gweep, often abbreviated to guee, and occasionally varied to guetah with a falling inflec- tion. Ata distance this note sounded not unlike the cry of a Nighthawk. Near at hand it had a peculiarly startling effect in the silence of these solitary woods, and I noticed that it left a disagreeable, jarring sensation on the ear. Once or twice it re- called the phew of the Tawny Thrush, but ordinarily it was sharper and higher pitched. In a general way the habits and actions of these Thrushes may be said to be identical, but dzckvelld is a much shyer, noisier and more restless bird than its cousin the Olive-back. Indeed I found it next to impossible to creep within shot of one, for long before LT was near enough the wary bird would take flight, to resume its singing or calling at some distant and perhaps inaccessible point on the steep mountain side below. The only successful method of proceeding proved to be that of lying in wait near the spot whence one had been driven, for in a short time it was almost sure to return, prompted, apparently, by curiosity, which I found I could stimulate by making a shrill chirping or squeaking. On such occasions the bird would approach by short, cautious flights, keeping itself so well concealed that it would often come within a few yards and retire again without once exposing itself to view. Indeed the two speci- mens taken were only secured by snap shots directed almost at random towards some opening in the branches where the flash of a wing betrayed its owner’s movements, Judging from the necessarily imperfect observations made dur- ing my hurried reconnoisance, the Bicknell’s Thrushes are most abundant, on Mt. Washington, in the belt of stunted firs and spruces which border the upper edge of the heavy timber, at an elevation of about 38co feet. From this point their numbers rapidly diminished as we descended, and the last one positively identified was met with at an elevation of (approximately) 3000 fect. Their range upwards is probably co-extensive with that of their favorite spruce thickets, for, as already stated, they were 16 Brewster on Bichknell’s Thrush in New England, |January found at the highest point where shelter of this kind occurred. There is, of course, no reason for supposing that they are con- fined to the eastern side of Mt. Washington. On the contrary it is highly probable that they are generally distributed over the upper portions of that mountain as well as on many of the higher ones of the surrounding group. Indeed they may be confidently looked for almost anywhere in New England at an elevation of over 3500 feet. Through Mr. Bicknell’s kindness I am now able to make a direct comparison between the specimens obtained on Mt. Wash- ington and two of the Catskills examples, one of which (No. 653) figures prominently in Mr. Ridgway’s original description of the new race. My measurements of these four specimens are as follows: 653 (E. P. Bicknell) ¢ ad., Slide Mt., New York, June 15, 1881. Wing, 3.65; tail, 2.96; culmen from feathers, .50; from base, .68; depth of bill at nostrils, .16. 717 (BE. P. B.) g ad., Slide Mt., June 27, 1882. Wing, 3-60; tail, 2.73; culmen from feathers, .54; from base, .67; depth of bill at nostrils, .18. 7389 (W. B.) g ad., Mt. Washington, July 20, 1882. Wing, 3.74; tail, 2.93; culmen from feathers, .49; from base, .64; depth of bill at nos- (eat be est 7390 (W. B.) g ad., same locality and date. Wing, 3.60; tail, 2.79; culmen from feathers, .52; from base, .67; depth of bill at base, .16. The Mt. Washington birds are in worn breeding plumage. They are plain grayish-olive above and along the flanks, with a slight tinge of reddish on the tail, and more or less fulvous over the jugulum and throat. Their general coloring is identical with that of average spring specimens of Z. a/écze and very much grayer than in Mr. Bicknell’s No. 653, which, however, is prob- ably an exceptional specimen, for his No. 717, obtained in the same locality June 27, 1882, is but a trifle browner than the New Hampshire skins. The latter come well within the limits of size given for bicknellz, and their bills are fully as slender and de- pressed as in Mr. Bicknell’s most extreme specimen (No. 653). This peculiar shape of the bill, already remarked upon by Mr. Ridgway, is a striking point of difference between them and all of a large series of Gray-cheeked Thrushes which I have collected in New England during the migrations. But although seemingly confined to the smaller race, it is an inconstant character, for Mr. Bicknell’s No. 717 has a bill as stout as in many of my largest alicia. ‘Taking size as the sole test (and it is the only one posi- 1883.] Jerrries on an Hermaphrodite Bird. tively claimed by Mr. Ridgway) I find that of Massachusetts specimens captured during the migrations, my series includes five that fall within the extremes assigned to d¢cknellz, to which, necessarily, they, with the Mt. Washington examples, must now be referred. While it is perhaps unsafe to base any very positive conclusions on the material at present available, there seems every reason to believe that this small race will prove a reasonably constant one, at least as represented along the southern borders of its breeding range. However this may be, the long-disputed ques- tion of the character of the relationship borne by 7. alzcz@ to T. swatnsont, is, as Mr. Bicknell has pointed out, at length definitely settled. Those who from the first have maintained their specific distinctness have surely good reason to exult in this final victory. Our satisfaction at the acquisition of this Thrush, new specifi- cally to the summer fauna of New England, and, as a variety, previously unrecognized from within its limits, can scarcely fail to be tempered with chagrin that so interesting a stranger has all this time existed among us undetected. Yet when we pause to reflect, there is the consolation—barren though it be — that our higher mountains have never been adequately explored by ornith- ologists ; and who can say that they do not hold further surprises? With their Alpine flora and cold climate they offer conditions favorable to the requirements of many northern-breeding birds, and it is by no means improbable that several such, at present known only as migrants through New England territory, may eventually be found to pass the summer in their remote fast- nesses. At all events the field is well worth further investi- gation. Bull. N,O.0. 8,Jan, 1888:p, /2-/ 7 fe BickNELL on” Hlylocichla alicia bicknelti. 153 while a sharp wind from the northwest piercing the wet woods and sighing among the balsams. blasted and weather beaten, heightened an impression of remoteness and desolation. The evergreens, constituting the principal arboreal growth, extended off on all sides, clothing the rocky and moss-grown slopes, and presenting the striking contrast of a young and fragrant second growth clustering about the branchless and spiny trunks of their sires tottering in decay; or, with tangled and matted branches outlined here and there ac we annraached the cummit acainct a met with at Port B airhield. 88. Halizeetus leucocephalus (Linn.) Savig. Barb Eacie.—‘‘Not common” at Houlton. 89x. Hetopistes migratorius (Linn.) Sw. Witp Picron.—Breeding at Grand Falls, but not common. go. Canace canadensis (Linn.) BP. SPRUCE PartTripce.—At Houl- ton ‘mostly found in the deep fir thickets, or in the swamps of firs and cedars.” Not met with at Fort Fairfield and Grand Falls, though of cours it occurs there. gt. Bonasa umbellus (Linn.) Steph. RuFFED GROUSE. — common at Fort Fairfield. _ At Grand Falls only a few were seey hard woods. : 92. Ardea herodias Zivn. Grrar Brue Heron. — ommon” Houlton. af 93. Nyctiardea grisea nevia (Bodd.) Allen. Nicywr Heron.—‘Not common” at Houlton. ae ‘ 94. Botaurus lentiginosus (Maytag. ) Steph/— BITTERN. — ‘‘Com- mon” at Houlton. One seen at Grand\Falls. 95. Philohela minor (Gm.) Gray. \Wootcock.—One seen on Little River Flats near Grand Falls. ,At Fort Fairfield we saw a specimen in the collection of Mr. Frank P. Orcutt,“ wh considered it rare in that neighborhood. ‘A few breed in the vicinity” d€ Houlton. 96. Rhyacophilus solitarius A Wils.) Cass. \ SOLITARY SANDPIPER. —At Grand Falls some were seer along the river Juye 9 (J. A. J-)- g7- ‘Tringoides macularius (Linn.) Gray. SPORTED SANDPIPER.— At Fort Fairfield it was very’ numerous along the Arodgtook River, and was also noticed in one 9f two other places. It was aburant along the rivers at Grand Falls. “At Houlton too it was very common. g8. Porzana carolina (Linn.) Bd. Carona RaiL.— Oye seen at Fort Fairfield, June 20, in a wet meadow partly grown up whh alder bushes (J. D.), E 99. Anasbscura Gm. Brack Duck. — ‘Very common, breeding” ix sponsa (Linn.) Bote. Woop Duck.—‘‘Quite common” a AMAfew seen at Grand Falls. A SKETCH OF THE HOME OF AYLOCICHLA ALICL# BICKNELLI, RIDGWAY, WITH SOME CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE ALLIES OF THIS NEW RACE. BY EUGENE P, BICKNELL. That there remained unrecognized at this late day a bird reg- ularly inhabiting one of the most populous portions of our coun- try; or, indeed, that a species of eminently boreal habitat during its breeding season, and not known to occur at all at such time within the limits of the United States, should have a representa- tive race regularly breeding in our midst, are facts for which we were little prepared. Mr. Ridgway’s recent paper* announcing these facts being necessarily of a technical nature, and confined to a formal description of the new Thrush, it has been thought well on the present oceasion to allude more particularly to the char- acter of the locality inhabited by the bird, and to some of its asso- ciates there, in connection with other sequential considerations. As the general physical character of the Catskill Mountains and the faunal features of the region will be treated by the writer else- where, it will be unnecessary to extend the range of the present relation from the summit of Slide Mountain in Ulster Co.,+ where the new race was discovered. On June 15, 1881, nearing the summit of this mountain, the forests of a more northern latitude were forcibly suggested. A shower had fallen during the ascent, and the sun was stillobscured, * “ Descriptions of two new Thrushes from the United States.” Proceedings U.S. National Museum, Vol. 374, pp. 374-9. + The highest peak of the Catskills,—4,205 feet altitude. BickNeLt on Hylocichla alicie bicknellt. 153 while a sharp wind from the northwest piercing the wet woods and sighing among the balsams. blasted and weather beaten, heightened an impression of remoteness and desolation. The evergreens, constituting the principal arboreal growth, extended off on all sides, clothing the rocky and moss-grown slopes, and presenting the striking contrast of a young and fragrant second growth clustering about the branchless and spiny trunks of their sires tottering in decay; or, with tangled and matted branches outlined here and there, as we approached the summit, against a gray and cheerless sky. Owing to the comparatively short life of these trees, that high portion of the mountain where their tribe had pitched was brought into grim contrast with its surroundings. Old age and death, continually present invading their ranks, had everywhere left their traces; flourishing clusters had been stricken in their fellowship, groups and gatherings had been divided and scattered, and like a contagion the destroyer had spread among their hosts. But the younger generations are con- tinually forming their associations, and with green and fragrant grouping filling in deserted chambers and screening the devasta- tion that has gone before, although only to furnish material for dts continuance in the future. All this, with an occasional under- growth of greater or less luxuriance, gave a diversified and some- what open character to the surroundings, entirely dissimilar to that of the environing forest; conditions, which, in conjunction with humidity and elevation, have brought this mountain top into some relation with the swampland of a more northern region. Reaching a more elevated portion of the ridge where the ground was more level and the surface less rocky, that north-woods tree, the Paper Birch (Betula papyracea) occasionally appeared, and more abundantly the Mountain Ash. Almost the only remnant of the dense mountain forests below was the Yellow Birch (Be- tula lutea) which, joining the undergrowth, persisted with small and stunted stature to the summit. On all sides were to be seen the white blossoms of Viburnum lantanotdes which, though also found in the valley woodlands, had there long since flowered and was now bearing green fruit. Another characteristic shrub was Amelanchier canadensis oligocarpa; \ower down had been found the var. dofryapzum, but here, the northern form was well marked, seeming almost specifically distinct. In the deep, damp moss, covering and filling in the rocks beneath the balsam growth, I54 BickneLL on Hylocichla alictiwe bicknell’. and relieving the ruggedness of the slopes, northern plants were growing in greater or less” profusion. The Dwarf Cornel ( Cor- nus canadensis) grew in such close luxuriance in congenial spots, that its snowy bracts imparted an almost uniform whiteness to whole beds. With, or near it, blossomed the Wood Sorrel (Ox- alts acetosella) with delicately violet-veined petals, and the ap- propriately-named Gold-thread (Coptis trifolia) of evanescent bloom but shining evergreen leaves, and the little Star Flower ( Trientalis americana) were often also associates. Excepting the pale yellow bells of Cléntonta borealis, and the purplish tinge, or veining, of the blossoms of several other species; all the plants noticed in bloom at this time upon the mountain bore flowers of some shade of white. The more open ground about our course along the ridge supported a luxuriant and graceful growth of that lovely fern Aspzd7am spinulosum, and with it, in openings about the summit, grew abundantly the Mountain Gol- den-rod ( Sol/dago thyrsoidea) which, although yet many weeks from bloom, heralded a toyal emblem to light the mountain’s brow ere the white locks of winter should again possess it. At the elevation where these plants first appeared the trees nowhere attained more than a medium stature. those which seemed best to have surmounted the difficulties of their situation, the Balsam and the Paper Birch, never rising to a height of more than, perhaps, twenty-five feet. ‘Chis growth completely encom- passed the range of vision, but an occasional scantiness in the foliage permitted glimpses of surrounding mountains rolling off like huge green billows into the blue distance. From these evergreens came the leisurely call of the Canada Nuthatch (.Szé¢a canadensts), and on closer approach the low, plaintive notes of the little Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (impzdo- nax flaviventris). The brief warble of the Black-and-Yellow Warbler (Dendreeca maculosa) told of the presence of its unseen author in the surrounding trees, while among the undergrowth the less frequent, but louder and more sustained song of the Mourning Ground-warbler ( Geothlypis philadelphia) showed that this species. which had been left at the foot of the mountain, had here reappeared. At intervals, faintly mingling with these songs, from some hidden fastness below, came the favtas¢a of the Winter Wren, a melody that seemed to pass from the spirit of unclaimed nature, voicing some mystery of the mountains. BickNELL on Flylocichla alicie@ bicknell?. 155 The clamor of a party of Blue Jays occasionally arose and died away in the forest, but here, in this mountain solitude, their screams seemed more subdued than in less primitive regions, and lacked that suggestion of consciousness which individuals con- stantly within human hearing, seem to acquire. Busily roaming Chickadees (Paras atricapillus) at times came about our path, and the Snowbird ( Fazco hyemalzs) was present with its simple song. Olive-backed Thrushes (/Zylocichla ustulata swain- sont) too, were constantly to be heard, and finally, guided by its near song, one was followed up and secured. A moment later another Thrush darted across the path, and disappearing through a young balsam growth, immediately began to sing a few rods off. The song was different from that of the bird which had just been shot, so much so, in fact, as to be remarked even by my guide. It seemed to be more uniform in. character, with less variation and definition of the notes; as I wrote in my note-book at the time — more suggestive of the song of 77. fuscescens. A conspicuous point of difference was that it was more subdued in tone, in-fact of a somewhat ventriloquous nature. On examining the bird, in hand, although I had thought myself familiar with all our eastern //y/octchle. 1 must confess to having been puz- zled. It was obviously neither the Olive-backed nor the Hermit Thrush, the only species of our own smaller Thrushes which from the distribution of their group (as then understood) could possibly be expected to occur. I at once noted its general resemblance to the Gray-cheeked Thrush, but it seemed impossible that this Hud- sonian bird could be found so far south at this season: and though a second specimen pointed more strongly toward it, it was not until [ had reached home and made actual comparisons, that I could feel satisfied that its true relationship was with that species. I had long noticed certain somewhat constant differences between examples of a//c/@ occurring at New York on their migrations, and incited by these specimens went carefully over my series of seventeen examples amd found them separable into two forms, characterized by slight diflerences in coloration and a notable dif- ference in size. The examples from the Catskills were more closely allied to the smaller of the two forms, and these, with, subsequently, my entire series, were submitted to Mr. Ridgway, the result being the recognition of a new bird, belonging to our eastern fauna. 156 BickneLt. on Hylocichla alicte bicknellt. But to return to the mountain. It would hardly be justifiable to make a positive statement about a difficult song that had been but once identified, but I feel positive that the Thrushes which were last heard that evening about our camp on the extreme summit of the mountain were of the new form. Night was rapidly falling, and the valleys were in darkness, when one sang several times near the camp, and for some time afterwards a sin- gle call-note was occasionally heard, and the varying distance of the sound showed that the birds were still active. Excepting these sounds, the last bird notes heard were those of the Yellow- bellied Flycatcher. The sharp northwest wind continued late, and the night be- came clear and cold. Shortly after midnight the bright moon showed the temperature, by a thermometer which I had hung beside the camp, to be 35°, and at sunrise it stood at 32°. Before daylight I was standing on a boulder of conglomerate on the dim mountain’s brow listening for the awakening .of the birds. The first songs heard were those of the Hermit Thrush, Snowbird, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which began almost simultane- ously, followed a little later by those of the Olive-backed Thrush and “the Mourning Warbler, but 7. bicknelli was not heard, or at‘least not near enough to be distinguished among the other species. The increasing light upon the mountain seemed to attract the birds from below, whither, perhaps, they had retired for the night, and soon many different notes were to be heard about the camp; not, however, in that boisterous chorus with which the day is often announced about our homes, in which the notes of many individuals of many species are blended in such confused medley that separate voices are almost indistinguishable, but simply the association of a few vocalists, the very isolation of whose position endowed their voices with an additional interest and charm. After those already mentioned the Black-poll Warbler (Den- dreca striata) began its unpretending, notes, which always to me suggest a short dotted line, and this song, with that of the Black-and-Yellow Warbler, occasionally alternated about us in agreeable contrast. Now and then a Canada Nuthatch, on its morning tour, tarried to inspect some dead trunk or thinly clothed tree, upon the projecting apex of which, or that of some com- BickNneLt on Hylocichla alicte bicknellz. 157 panion, a solitary Purple Finch occasionally alighted, and with a few wild fugitive notes was gone, to other mountain tops or the forests of the descending slopes. But to revert to the Thrushes. The two specimens of the new’ form which were obtained were both males, and were unques- tionably breeding,* though no nest known to belong to their species was found. It remains to briefly consider some facts furnished by the birds’ occurrence as narrated. These facts bear directly on the long contested question of the relationship which 77. adécé@ and tele swainsont bear to one another, and it can scarcely be denied that the present evidence on this point is conclusive. Not only have we representatives of both birds preserving their respective identities at the same locality, under identical conditions of en- vironment, but. examples of each taken under these circumstan- ces, display, except in size, even a greater dissimilitude than those which occur together on their migrations. There is but one tenable interpretation of these facts: the birds —A/y/octchla alicia and H. ustulata swatnsont —are wholly and entirely dis- tinct. Any theory of dichromatism which might be advanced, ' + > . + . . aside from its extreme unlikelihood, would be shown inadequate by the relative differences in proportions of parts which the two birds exhibit. These differences, as well as those of color are illustrated by the Catskill birds. A specimen of 77. swaznsont taken at the top of Slide Mountain was in every way typical of its species, and conspicuously unlike the examples of b¢cknelli taken at the same time. Aside from differences in the propor- tions of parts, the two birds were strikingly different in color, the decided grayish olive tinge of the superior surface of swadcusont contrasting strongly with the much darker brownish cast of its congener. One example of the latter instead of showing indica- tions of a buffy tinge about the sides of the head and on the breast, which under the circumstances we should expect to be the case, were it in any way specifically related to swaznsonz, has ab- solutely no indications whatever of this shade about the sides of the head, and actually less on the breast than any speci- * Both birds were carefully examined and the evidence on this point was positive and unequivocal. A Thrush’s nest containing spotted eggs discovered near the top of Slide Mountain may have been either that of this form or of swainsont, but as positive iden- tification was prevented, further allusion to it is, for the present, withheld, A NEW SUBSPECIES OF THE GENUS AYLOCICHLA. BY REGINALD HEBER HOWE, JR. Sryce I published my paper on ‘The Ranges of Aylocichla fusces- cens and Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola’ in ‘The Auk’ for January, 1900 (Vol. XVII, No. 1, pp. 18-25), [have had quite a number of additional specimens sent me for examination and identification. These have forced me to recognize that a subspecific difference ex - ists between the Aylocichla fuscescens salicicola of the West and the bird inhabiting Newfoundland, which in my former paper I referred to this samerace. I noticed at that time that a slight difference did exist, but did not deem it worthy of separation ; not being in favor of describing slight variations. Iam now, however, of the opinion that the Newfoundland bird is subspecifically distinct from the western sa/icicola, though nearer this race than to Mylocichla fus- cescens. This difference, now apparent, proves the necessity of having, in describing species and subspecies, very large series with which to work. My former paper was based on the examina- tion of far more specimens than a great many of our recognized subspecies have been described from, and yet the addition to that series has proved that if the western race saJicicola is recognized the race inhabiting Newfoundland also must be, or in other words that the former series of thirty-six specimens only barely suggest- ed what the addition of eleven more specimens proves. The Newfoundland Veery (Hylocichla fuscescens fuliginosa) in Massa- chusetts. — On the 27th of last September I shot a specimen of this lately described bird in Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Mass.,—the first example taken in this State. The four autumnal records for New England fall within the narrow limits of five days (Sept. 23-27), and indicate a migra- tion through this region considerably later than the departure of the native Veeries for the South. In 1889 I killed a Veery in Waltham, Mass., on the extraordinarily late date, Oct. 5. This bird was unfortunately not pre- served, but without much doubt it belonged to the race fuliginosa. — WaA.L- TER Faxon, Museum of Comparative Zovlogy, Cambridge, Mass. Auk, XVIII, April. 1901, 9.19%: y Wy A Zo Verenth merrachunl Jutt3 ff Pr Crt . Hylocichla fuscescens fuliginosa.—In this same house 1 discovered a specimen of the Newfoundland Thrush, taken. also near. Lowell, a num- ber of autumns ago. This is the second record for the State. — REGINALD Heser Howe, Jr., Longwood, Mass. Auk, XIX, Jan., 1902, p. 92. Hylocichla fuscescens fuliginosa, subsp. nov. Type, from Codroy, Newfoundland, No. 46260, adult. Coll. of Wil- liam Brewster. Collected May 31, 1895, by Ernest Doane. Geographical Range.— Newfoundland (also possibly Anticosti and Labrador). Subspectfic Characters.—Size slightly larger. Upper parts, especially on the head, distinctly drowndsk, much darker and not of the tawny shade of typical fuscescens, and lacking the greenish tinge of sadécecola. Throat, lores, and upper breast suffused with du, though perhaps less so than in Juscescens (in salictcola buff is practically absent), the upper breast and usually also the throat spotted heavily with broad arrow-shaped brown markings suggesting very strongly the throat and breast of 1. w. swatn- soniz. The breast markings of both fuscescens and salicicola are narrow and more penciled and lighter in shade. Bill darker and heavier.! Remarks —The two specimens already recorded from Rhode Island, and the ones from Ottawa, Ontario, are referable to this race, as is also a male kindly loaned me by Dr. Louis B. Bishop, taken at New Haven, Conn., on September 23, 1895. ' The spec- imen recorded from Chester, South Carolina, is probably referable to this new race, rather than to sa/cicola. Another specimen sent me by Dr. Bishop from the Magdelen Islands, taken June 13, 1887, is intermediate between /uscescens and fuliginosa, although diffi- cult to determine on account of being in worn, breeding plumage. Dr. Bishop has also kindly sent me an adult male (No 4116) taken May 6, 1899, in New Haven County, Conn., and an adult female (No. 4950) taken May 16, 1900, in the same locality, both referable to fwliginosa, and the first spring specimens from New England I have seen, 1 For measurements see Tables with former paper. Auk, Vol. XVII, No. I, pp. 22, 33: Auk, XVII, July, 1900, Dp.270-27/ The Newfoundland Veery (Hylocichla fuscescens fuliginosa) in Massa- chusetts. — On the 27th of last September I shot a specimen of this lately described bird in Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Mass.,—the first example taken in this State. The four autumnal records for New England fall within the narrow limits of five days (Sept. 23-27), and indicate a migra- tion through this region considerably later than the departure of the native Veeries for the South. In 1889 I killed a Veery in Waltham, Mass., on the extraordinarily late date, Oct. 5. This bird was unfortunately not pre- served, but without much doubt it belonged to the race fulig¢nosa.— Wat- TER Faxon, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. Auk, XVIII, April., 1901, », ! 7 3. : grey A iy Vermnd wertatluanell Pet? ff Dy CAL « Hylocichla fuscescens fuliginosa.— In this same housé I discovered a specimen of the Newfoundland Thrush, taken also near: Lowell, a num- ber of autumns ago. This is the second record for the State. — REGINALD HEBER Howe, Jr., Longwood, Mass. Auk, XIX, Jan., 1902, p. 7h. salceceola 7 Brrd- 3 Gorrrte, Camacda, Lp prbrt hk ba ALY, Jan. 1967, Tn. 38, 31. Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola, Witow Turusu.—I have one, from the MclIlwraith collection, taken at Hamilton, May 16, 1895, but it has not yet been detected here. oS Webs fre Come Gu Hylocichla juscescens salicicola. Four adult males,— New Haven, Sept. 23, 1895; Woodbridge, May 5, 1894; and East Haven, May 16, 1900, and May 14, 1904.— Louis B. Bisuor, New Haven, Conn. aeomddd, duly, J Le. 28> 37S. RANGES OF “AVYLOCTCHEA HUSCESCENS, AND ZAY= LOCICHLA FUSCESCENS SALICICOLA IN NORTH AMERICA. BY REGINALD HEBER HOWE, JR. Waite looking over the Ornithological Collection of the Mu- seum of Comparative Zodlogy, I came across a peculiar specimen of Wilson’s Thrush (fylocichla fuscescens) taken at Newport, Rhode Island, by R. L. Agassiz on the very late date for this locality of September 25, 1885. A few days later I happened to son’s records for typical Aylocichla fuscescens are probably at fault, the bird inhabiting this region (Manitoba) being un- doubtedly Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola, for the specimen (Coll. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 112606) from Shoal Lake, Manitoba, I have examined, and it is typical of this last named race, as are many other specimens examined from the same region. Two speci- mens (Coll. U. 5. Nat. Mus., Nos. 63847, Pembina, Dak., and 13698, Rainy Lake River), identified by Mr. Ridgway as Z& Suscescens are without doubt sadicécola, though slightly intermediate, as might be expected, being taken on the border line between the two races. The range of /ylocichla fuscescens salicicola Ridgw., Willow Thrush, is from Missouri (Charleston) and Dakota westward to the Rocky Mountains (Washington, Spokane), south to New Mexico and Arizona, and northward to Manitoba, Rainy Lake River and British Columbia (Kamloops). A series of specimens from Codroy, Newfoundland, in Mr. William Brewster’s collec- tion I find to be typical sa/icio/a, but | am unable to obtain any or Howe, anges of Welson’s and Willow Thrushes, I9 speak to Dr. Walter Faxon in regard to this specimen, and he spoke of always having noticed a peculiarity in late fall migrants of this species in New England. This led me to look into the matter more carefully with the following results. I find that the range of typical Hylocichla fuscescens extends northward to Nova Scotia (Streuracke); ‘Yoronto, Ontario ; northern Ohio; and westward to Missouri. Audubon recorded it from Newfoundland (Orn. Biog., II, p. 362) and Labrador, the species, however, was probably Aylocichla alicia. Mr. William Brewster recorded it from Ellis Bay, Anticosti (Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. His., Vol. XXII, p. 368) where he writes “rather to my surprise I came upon a pair of these Thrushes,....they were seen so distinctly that there can be no doubt as to the correctness of the identification.” The birds, however, were not taken. Thompson in ‘Birds of Manitoba’ (Proc. U. S. Nat. Museum, Vol. XIII, p. 633) records this species as an “abundant summer resident,” and gives the following localities where the species has been recorded: Pembina; Red_River Valley; Selkirk, and Red River; Shoal Lake; Oak Point; Portage la Prairie; Lake Manitoba, and westward; Carberry; Qu’ Appelle; but Thomp- son’s records for typical Mylocichla fuscescens are probably at fault, the bird inhabiting this region (Manitoba) being un- doubtedly Aylocichla fuscescens salicicola, for the specimen (Coll. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 112606) from Shoal Lake, Manitoba, I have examined, and it is typical of this last named race, as are many other specimens examined from the same region. ‘Two speci- mens (Coll. U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 63847, Pembina, Dak., and 13698, Rainy Lake River), identified by Mr. Ridgway as Z. Suscescens are without doubt sadicicola, though slightly intermediate, as might be expected, being taken on the border line between the two races. The range of Mylocichla fuscescens salicicola Ridgw., Willow Thrush, is from Missouri (Charleston) and Dakota westward to the Rocky Mountains (Washington, Spokane), south to New Mexico and Arizona, and northward to Manitoba, Rainy Lake River and British Columbia (Kamloops). A series of specimens from Codroy, Newfoundland, in Mr. William Brewster’s collec- tion I find to be typical sa/cicofa, but 1 am unable to obtain any 20 Hower, Ranges of Wilson's and Willow Thrushes. ate Jan. specimen along the line of the soth parallel of latitude between Newfoundland and Rainy Lake River. Although this appar- ent hiatus exists, careful comparison and measurements show no difference between specimens from these two localities. The specimen from Chicago, Ill., which Mr. Ridgway cited in the collection of H. K. Coale of that city (No. 15681), taken Sep- tember 16, was undoubtedly a fall straggler, but probably not so far out of its range as at that time supposed. The bird recorded from Cook Co., Texas (Cook’s Migration in the Miss. Valley, Bull. No. 2, U.S. Dept. of Agr., p. 284) was probably also a straggler. The pair of Thrushes observed by Mr. Brewster on Anticosti may have been of this race, for without the bird in the hand it is difficult, though not impossible, to fell it from Wylocichla Suscescens, and it seems unlikely that Mr. Brewster should identify Suscescens or its subspecies for a/icie. The specimen taken at Newport, before referred to (also typical sadicicola), and the Willow Thrush recorded from near the town of Chester, South Carolina, October 5, 1888, by Leverett M. Loomis (Auk, Vol. VI, No. 2, p. 194), and a male taken by me at Bristol, Rhode Island, on September 24, 1899 (typical salicicola), are probably not stragglers, as one might heretofore have supposed, from the far West, but from Newfoundland. The question at once arises as suggested above, whether sa/icicola, as it inhabits Newfound- land, does not also inhabit Labrador, Anticosti, and surrounding regions, and whether it does not also inhabit the intervening country between its known western and eastern habitats. It will be interesting to see whether many of the eastern United States collections do not contain specimens of sadicicola taken late in the fall or perhaps early in the spring, formerly identified as [Hylocichla fuscescens.1 It is thought that it may be of value to add here, beside the 1 Since the above was put in type I have received from Mr. W. E. Saunders a specimen of Z. f. salicicola from Ottawa, Ont., taken Sept. 19, 1899. Being a fall specimen, it only shows the southward migration of this race extends as far west as Ottawa, or that in case the bird had followed a direct southern route, that the region directly north of Ottawa is inhabited by 7. f sadiczcola, which would be interesting as filling the gap between its western and eastern ranges. ed Hower, Ranges of Wilson's and Willow Thrushes. 21 1900 € table of measurements of specimens examined, a supplementary description of ylocichia f. salicicola: as Mr. Ridgway’s descrip- tion is in some ways decidedly unsatisfactory. Upper parts oltvaceous-tawny, ‘‘russet olive” particularly on crown, nape, back, scapulars and tail, most tawny on the rump. Under parts: throat almost immaculate and unmarked, breast suggesting swaznsontz, dark olivaceous-buff, not light tawny buff like fwscescens, quite heavily marked with blunt arrow shaped spots of fuscous, especially in the fall, unlike the brownish more penciled markings of fwscescens; lower breast and belly white, tinged strongly with olivaceous on the sides and flanks ; wings olivaceous-tawny “russet olive” with the greater, middle and primary coverts tawny; cheeks tawny, but not lores, as in SWAtNSONEE; upper mandible very dark brown, under horn color, tipped with brown as in swatnsonit, unlike fuscescens, whose under mandible is untipped in the spring and lightly if at all in the fall. Ridgway states that the breast in adult spring specimens “is only faintly or not at all spotted with darker,” which is hardly so, I think even in the very specimens he examined, this marking of the breast being one of the characteristics of sadicicola; and his measurements, proving the race “averaging decidedly larger” than fuscescens, do not agree with mine taken from a much larger series than he tabulates, showing the males of sadicicola to be only slightly larger, and the females slightly smaller than fuscescens, or no real material difference in size. For the use of specimens for comparison thanks are due to Dr. Chas. W. Richmond and Mr. F. W. True of the U. S. National Museum; Mr. Witmer Stone of the Academy of Nat- ural Sciences, Phila.; Dr. Walter Faxon, Museum Comparative Zoology, Cambridge; Mr. William Brewster of Cambridge ; Mr. Paul Bartsch of Washington, D. C.; Mr. G. F. Dippie of Toronto, Canada, and Mr. H. B. Bigelow of Boston. 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TNS 8 2 ap | |Culmen Nostril.| H.fuscescens | - H. f. salicicola | Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. Wm.Brewster's Garden, Cambridge, Mass. May 29. An Olive-backed Thrush appeared in the garden on the 24th, Monday. I have seen a good deal of him on the 24th, 25th, 27th, and 28th. He has kept mostly in the shrubbery and trees in the west side of the garden and I have been very near him on several occasions. He was singing every time and I had a fine chance to study his song and his markings. I o served the strong character of the spots on the breast and the light ring about the eye. Once I got within a few feet of him and I stood behind a bush and listened to his song to my ate content. On another occasion I got my glass on him as he stood on a branch a short way off, and for fully ten minutes I watched him, Most of the time he sat on one leg and seven times he gaped, opening his little mandibles to their full ex- tent. I hoped he would sing, but ha doana would sing when I was looking at him. I saw him only once in the east part of the garden when he was by the lilacs. I was not in the garden on the 26th. Dr.Walter Faxon heard him on the 27th. I have seen him and heard him singing both morning and afternoon, This morning I have walked all over the place and listened carefully, but have not found him. Has he at last left this beautiful spot and started north? /i I have been in the garden morning and afternoon, but no Thrush, He must have gone. 109 aie The Thrush did not appear after the 28th of May. IN Al. Keank Concord, Mass. 1899, -In the dense pines near Pulpit Rock an /0live-—backed May 10, Thrush was in full song at sunset making the woods ring. way of Davis's Hill in P.M. An einer | “W re PS» pe + amy gan song near une spring. Nearly full song in September, One sang in The Garden almost continuously and in’ nearly Sept.21. full tones for fifteen minutes or more during a light shower just before sunse Birds oF Upver oy T.. Batehelder, ha 4. Turdus ustulatus swainsoni (Caban.) Cowes. OLIVE-BACKED TurusH.—Common at Grand Falls, especially in the hard woods and more open fir woods. At Fort Fairfield it appeared to be rather common, though seldom seen. Common and breeding at Houlton. Bull. N.O.0, 7,April, 1882, p.108 || 58a. Olive-backed Thrush. Tolerably | || common. Breeds, Fresh eggs July 4th. | '}. 22. RV. Twne. 1890. v.2¢ 2,29, ZV, Jape, 1890, p-8e Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. OLive-BAcKED THRUSH. — Very abun- dant, almost equalling in numbers the Hermit Thrush. They are usually excessively shy and difficult to obtain, although several may be singing within hearing atthe sametime. They frequent thick growths of spruces, and from some commanding perch pour forth their rich song. If they become aware of your approach evena gunshot or more away, they dive down into the dense undergrowth, and a few soft alarm notes are the last you hear of them. Squeaking to them will bring them to you for one brief look, which satisfies them, but not you, for they generally see you first and at close range. Sometimes they sing in the thickets of spruces, but are more apt to have a particular perch, perhaps on some towering, dead tree. I heard no songs that I had any reason to suppose were other than true swadnsonit, for the possibility of finding déckuelld or alicie had to be kept constantly in mind. I found no young, even up to the last day of my stay,but that proves nothing with a bird so retiring. They sang more persistently and in greater numbers in the early morning and late evening hours. Qany he, SOFT Ne ene way q foretiee Lind) Vslaud . ¢ Auk X, Jan, 1893. p.14-/67 Birds of N.E. coast of Labrador by Henry B. Bigelow. 2, 83. Turdus ustulatus swainsoni. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH; Turdus alicie. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.— One or the other of these thrushes was common as far north as Aillik. I supposed they were all the Olive- packed, but one which I took at Battle Harbor proved to bea Gray-cheeked which leaves me somewhat in doubt as to the identity of the others. Auk, XIX, Jan., 1902, p.30, Buds Bronco, One cuihe by Jarno WY GFhawnw, a i Pert 11, Lan ienclos KHIG Jen. 1907, fa 96. 287. Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii. Ovrtve-BAcKED THRUSH.—Com- mon migrant, April 27 to May 26, and September 12 to October 14; earliest spring record, April 13, 1890; earliest fall record, September 1, | 1906. 4896. ‘Penobscot Bay, Maine, Desr Mant, Teme 20h LI Le 233 246 28E 264.178 29h a7 “if Tuy | ig Ft Ye SH OS TES FS 10d US IDS, 135 148178 155 — vere 43 a ak Sedgunil (i Unk oT te ce bs bf parade trl ¥ Sforroes ~ mm fis linia Drrtnle . re te ’ cD te 6 * fie ‘ Birds of Dead River Region, Me. F.H.C. 2, Hylocichlu ustulata swainsoni, (Olive-backed Thrush). Fairly common. More often observed in the hard wood forests around the cultivated fields of the southern portion of Franklin county, than in the dense spruce tracts further north, while in Somerset county they were more common in the northern portion. A nest containing three eggs was brought to me while at Flagstaff, “Taken from among the roots of an overturned spruce about as high as my head,” was the ill-constructed phrase of the youth who secured them for me. Oe &Q. SI. Aug. 1886. p, 114 bunt CO Eee fo ae | VE SOE) mW Tr he af [Se ists. Ong ae ae La et gg Oe oe foto rw, MM aa 2 Ac ek: “ag eS RSC aE COnT In at nee ean PY ke es ee LA. Aawg of Ara Fosse ee Be ee oe ene teases Se acid ie al ‘Summer Birds of Presidential Range, White Mts. A.P,Chadbocrne hls ae of farie- gt pond . From the yas AE 3000 feet altitude 7. u. swaznsonii was the only ondgeen in any numbers. | - Auk, 4, April 1887, p.108 pe 9 ‘ L H j Sr sag Birds of Presidential Range, White Mts. P, Chadbourne ghey sd sole Of, barre ge pot . From the a 3000 feet altitude 7. w. swainsonii was the only oné¥geen in any numbers. | a Oh Us trthD> Auk, 4, April 1887, p.10S Summer Birds of Presidential Range, White Mts, -A.P, Ohadbourne 45. Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. Occurs throughout the country at the base of the mountain, but is there outnum- bered by Z. aonalaschke pallasiz ; the latter soon becomes rare as a higher altitude is reached, but its place is then taken by 7. aléct@ bickunelli ; there is, however, an intermediate tract where 7. w. swainsoniz is the most abundant of the Thrushes. In short, Swainson’s is the only Thrush that extends uninterruptedly from base to shrub limit, though in the highest part of its range it is less plenty than Bicknell’s, and near the base not as common as the Hermit. In the intervale land along the river, 7. a. pal- last? takes the place held by J. w. swaznsonit, and is there outnumbered by T. fuscescens. Auk, 4, April 1887. p.107 Bds. Obs. in Franconia, N.H. June 1!l-21 86, and June4-Aug. 1,’87, W.Faxon 84. Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH.—Common _ at higher levels, and in deep woods about the village. Auk, V. April, 1888. p.153 Open tite ha aia bos. tan rer A’ Coot rrrdiy FR 83. Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii. Oxive-Backep Turusn. — This is the commonest Thrush on the lower slopes of the mountain, ranging from the base to the upper limits of the heayy timber, above which it is replaced by dzcknellz. Although quite shy, and therefore rarely seen,*its beautiful rich song —in my opinion second only to that of the Hermit —’ was heard at frequent intervals during my trips up the mountain, some- times as many as three of the singers being within hearing at once. Bds. Obs. near Graylock Mt. Berkshire Co. Mass. June 28-July16. W.Faxon 77- Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. Swarnson’s THrusH.—Not uncom- mon on the Saddle-Back range from about 2800 feet up to the summit of Graylock, 3505 feet. Met with sparingly as low as 2000 feet. Auk, V1. April, 1889. p.107 Mass. (near Concord). 1887 , Meow We Bt ish arent vate t aha Punoae Purina ee Mass. (near Cambridge). 1887 Crm ae Birds of Bristol County, Mass, F.W.Andros. Turdus ustulatus swainsonit (Cab.), Olive- backed Thrush. Migrant, rare. 0,%0O, XII, Sept. 1887 p.14! Some Birds of Lewis Co Ney, OC. Hart Merriam . Pe the bac le (Ahi mdaeh) 204 00r~ T. swainsoni,, *? fon bureh, Bull. N.O.0, 3, April, 1878. p.53 Birds of the Adiron dack Region C.H, Merriam, 4. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni (Caban.) Ridgw. OLIVE-BACKED Turusu. — Tolerably common summer resident, breeding throughout the wilderness. Bull, N,O.90, 6,0ct, 1881, p. 226 Arrivais of Mig’y Birds, Spring-1886, Central Park, N. Y.City.A. G. Paine, Jr. May 9, Zurdus ustulatus swainsont, (758a). | Olive-backed Thrush. O.&0. XI, July.1886.p.109 Sa Cac C. EEO, ree i Bi lag Olive-backed Thrush, Only one seen this Fall, o (Hylocichia swainsoni), n Oct. 7th and 21st, O.20, x. Dec.1885.p. £3 The Singing of Birds. H.P. Bicknell. Turdus ustulatus swainsoni. O1ive-sAcKED THRUSH, This Thrush is in full song during its spring migration, which occupies the latter half or two-thirds of May, but is commonly silent in the autumn. It is, however, probable that singing may occasionally be indulged in that season, for I was assured by one who was familiar with the song of the species, that several were heard singing at Bay Ridge, Long Island, September 26, 1880, at the height of their migration. On their arrival in September the new plumage has not always completed its growth. In many specimens growing feathers are scattered over the body, and often some of the remiges have their bases still soft, or even sheathed by the matrix of the feather. When the birds first appear they have begun to develop adipose tissue, and it is not long before they become excessively fat. Auk, £, April, 1884, Dp. 129-130 Myrtur uz ire Strnintdeoni, am Oe Ett Gate eS ape? et a Dae ee Se Lay. <9 ~S4pti Y i Daring thé sdmmer of 1891 some very intéresting obServations were made as to their song habits. The song of the Olive-backed Thrush begins low and ascends by two regular steps of two notes each, and ends with several sharp notes. The first note of each step is higher than the second, and the second of the next is about the same as the first note of the first step. Occasionally the whole is preceded bya sharp chuck. ‘The notes have the swelling beauty of all Thrush songs, while the metallic ending rings like a little bell. The song always says to me,—gurvle gurgle ting, che che che. As far as my experience goes, this Thrush never sings steadily except in his chosen tree; in fact for two years one has selected for his perch a small evergreen near our cottage, and it was from him that I procured the following data. He sings onan average nine anda half times a minute with extreme 230 Wuite on Birds of Mackinac Island. Auk DA rote regularity. During the song periods of morning and evening his con- stancy of purpose is remarkable; except to seize a passing insect, he never breaks the regular recurrence of his song. From a series of records it is found that he begins on an average about 3.15 A. M., and sings steadily (of course I mean by that ten times a minute, not constantly) until about g.00 A. M.; he is nearly silent until noon, after which he sings occasionally tor a minute or so. About 4.30 he begins again, and only ceases to retire for the night about 7.30 p.m. This is a wonderful record, and were it not verified by long experience, 1 should myself be inclined to consider it exceptional. Allowing but eight times a minute for his songs, we have, for one day, the time consumed in song periods about eight hours and forty-five minutes, and in occasional song, at least twenty minutes, according to which there would be a total of 4,360 songs per day. His song ceased entirely about July 25, although for five days before that but half the time was employed. Certainly it would not be unfair to allow him at the very least six weeks of song, 42 days at 4000 per day, in all 168,000 songs in a season. The above facts have been many times verified. ich. 1891 Notes. Detroit Me Swales, May 24. H. A in the swamps near Voight’s woods. Olive-backed Thrush; I found two nests containing four eggs each. ‘The nests were in low bushes, and were shrouded over with | green leaves, and were very pretty structures ; | each contained a Cowbird’s egg. I never found any nests of this Thrush before. 0.& O. Vol, 18, July.1893 p, 100 Some Birds of La Platta Co. Col. With Annotations. C.F. Morrison, 1. Hylocichia ustulata swainsont (Caban), |Ridgw. Olive-backed Thrush. I took a nest iwith three eges, supposed to be of this species, but as it was in the post and near where a sen- try was stationed, I dared not fire my gun, as by so doing I was diable to alarm the garrison, and perhaps spend the balance of the day in the post guard-honse. The nest was placed upon lsome dead bushes hanging over a small slug- jgish stream, two feet above the water, nest of lorass and leaves which were moist, and so loosely constructed as to nearly fall to pieces when I removed it. Eggs with ground color, dark-blueish, and I should say spotted, not speckled, as the spots were large and almost entirely covered the ground color. Iam sorry to be obliged to begin this list with such a ‘doubtful species, but [enter it with the above remarks, for what it is worth. Found up to 9000 feet. O.& oO, XIII, May. 1888 Dd. Wis) Notes- Hggs of Thrushes & Thrasheté H.G.Parker. Olive-backed Thrush (Jiylocichla ustulata swainsont). Possibly breeds in the mountain- ous portions of Pennsylvania, but its habitat is Massachusetts and northward. Eggs of this species run through all the varieties exhibited | in a series of the Russet-back, and no rule can | be laid down for properly distinguishing the eggs of these birds in the cabinet. Eggs com- monly four, rarely five, and sometimes three. A set collected at Grand Manan, N. B., June 18, 1884, was taken from a nest in a spruce tree three feet from the ground. Eggs bright blu- ish green, specked all over with reddish brown, quite pointed, .90x .63; .89 x .64; .90 x .63. Another set collected June 11th, 1877, also at Grand Manan, N. B., the nest which was made of roots ete., in a hollow stump about five feet from the ground, has four eggs: .94x.70; 94x .71; .96x.71 and .96x.69. Pale bluish, spotted with reddish brown, chiefly at the larger end. In three of the eggs the markings form an in- distinct wreath at the larger end. 0,.&%0. XII. May.1887 p. 6g The Olive-backed Thrush. Never shall I forget my first experience with the Olive-backed Thrush. It was during that delightful period of my orni- thological experience when any bird at allt’ app. out of the common in occurrence, habits, SS or coloring, was exceedingly ‘rare.’”’8 4 wonderful record, and were it What was my delight, then, when late inled by long experience I should July this species literally forced itselfie inclined to consider it excep- upon my notice. On opening the door Why, just take your pencil and early one morning the first object) thatlt how many songs he must utter presented itself to my gaze was a little half-grown bird placidly sunning himself on the warm boards, while his wiser or more experienced mother was vainly striving to impress upon his youthful mind a more fitting fear of man. The young- ster, as all youngsters are apt, thought he knew more about it than anyone else. |He not only refused to leave, but sub- | mitted to handling with the utmost equa- nimity. Having examined him to my heart’s content, I threw him into the air; at once the old bird was by his side, guid- ing him into the less exciting but safer confines of the wood. How anxiously did I watch the brood, hoping that they might remain until grown, that I might procure a specimen. They vanished in two days, but my disappointment was al- leviated by the capture of a fine old male. Since that long-ago experience this species has become-perfectly familiar to me from four’ summers’ observation on Mackinac Island. The Olive-backed Thrush arrives in Kent County from the fifth to the tenth of May. Never common, a specimen or so may always be found during an afternoon walk. Unlike his brother, the Hermit Thrush, this bird prefers woods either entirely dry or of a swampy character surrounded by high-wooded hills. Dur- ing migrations, however, this bird is not essentially woodland. Flocks of two or three may often be surprised in the city orchards. Wherever found he attends strictly to his own affairs, neither obtruding hims If upon your notice or exhibiting unneces- sary shyness. A short chzp is his only note at this period; his song, abundant “song, too, as you shall see, is reserved for his summer home. His stay is short, ex- cept in some favored localities, where he sometimes lingers a week beyond his time. |The twenty-first of May sees the last one | off. ile day! ssing the time in round numbers, him but eight a minute (he may liered while I was not looking, w) and we have — of singing, one day, 500 min. *¢ occasional song, Ay Total, See be in. at 8 per min., 4160 songs. ing ceases entirely about the 25th although for five days before that tal effort is somewhat relaxed, If the usual time being spent in it. However, as he must arrive first week in June, certainly it ot be unfair to allow him at the st six weeks of vocal effort, 42 ooo per day, 168,000 songs in a i record excelled probably by the lone. arm note is now chu-ree, with a ibrating nasal sound on the last Often, as with other thrushes, v whistle is uttered, Jee-o-o. f his characteristics is that, when it takes a great deal to frighten ne can stand almost directly under but he will continue to sing on, y oblivious of your presence. lhe young hatch, little time is lost tginning the southward journey. fry abundant on the island during | migrations, I have observed but tagglers in Kent County ‘during dd. Stewart Edward White. ae of our readers will be pained to | James M. Southwick, the Rhode turalist, has been confined to his ng the last ten weeks. We all a speedy recovery. 0.& O Vol,17, Aug,1892 p.114-115 v vy eather much the same. At such times Their losely resembles the flight of some of often see flying fish. motion ye smaller Sandpipers, and indeed the PUBLISHED BY THE FRA} $1.00 per ESTABLISH] Annum, Vol. XVII. HYDE PARK, Mi Bird Notes at Sea. All summer I have been cruising ¢ shore on a pilot boat. I expected to g material for a long article ‘for the Ort THOLOGIST AND Oozocisr, hut find m self much disappointed. Spedies are fe and well known and incidents alme entirely lacking. Our cruising ground off the coast of South Carolina, \ nev extending much beyond Cape Romain ¢ the north, or Tybee on the south. TT greater part of the time we are out | es time squally, witha high sea. One’ hea} storm we dragged both anchors and we ashore in the night, but were helped ¢ again early next morning by a passit steamer. | Our boat is schooner, and one of the fastest on tl a comfortable forty-te coast. We have had some lively rac with our competitors, and leave the There aj three boats working against us, so we a seldom hove to, but spend our time eith| beating to windward in a heavy head si no victories to record so far. or rushing down with slack sheets al topsails all up as soon as a speck of sé With this vie of my surroundings it will be readily se4 breaks the horizon line. that it has not been easy to make fy notes upon the habits and manners of tl ; . When once we strike out into the blu few birds that I have seen. Copyright. 1802. by Franc PY AucustT, 1892. | AND OOLOGIST. 115 We again strike acquaintance on Mack- inac Island about the first of July. Here the Thrushes frequent the steep bluffs covered with evergreens, in which the Here by far his most striking characteristic, his singing power, nests are built. is developed. The song of the Olive-backed Thrush begins low, ascends by two steps of two notes each, and ends with several sharp The first note of each step is higher than the second, and the second of notes. the next is about the same as the firs? Occasionally the whole is preceded by a sharp chuck. note of the first step. The notes have the swelling beauty of all thrush songs, while the metallic ending ‘¢rings” like a little bell. The song al- ways says to me, gurgle gurgle ting che che che. As far as my experience goes, the Thrush never sings stead/y, except in his chosen tree. has selected for his perch a small ever- In fact, for two years one green near our cottage, and it was from him that I procured the following data. I am about to state what to most of you will seem incredible. Please remember that each of these statements has been verified again and again through succes- sive seasons, and that I have not attempt- ed to over rather than understate the case. He sings on an average nine and one- half times a minute with extreme regular- ity. During the song periods of morning and evening his constancy of purpose is remarkable; except to seize a passing in- sect, he never breaks the recurrence of his song. From a long series of records it is found that he begins on an average at about 3.15 A.M., sings sfead7/y (of course I mean ten times a minute with slight in- termissions, not cowstantly) until about g A.M.; is nearly silent till noon, after which he sings occasionally for a minute or so; begins again about 4.30, and only ceases to retire for the night at 7.30 P.M. This is a wonderful record, and were it not verified by long experience I should myself be inclined to consider it excep- Why, just take your pencil and figure out how many songs he must utter tional. in a single day! Expressing the time in round numbers, allowing him but eight a minute (he may have soldiered while I was not looking, you know) and we have — Time of singing, one day, 500 min. ¢¢ ¢ occasional song, ZO Ft Total, 2. ees 520 min. at 8 per min., 4160 songs. His song ceases entirely about the 25th of July, although for five days before that date vocal effort is somewhat relaxed, about half the usual time being spent in its pursuit. However, as he must arrive by the first week in June, certainly it would not be unfair to allow him at the very least. six weeks of vocal effort, 42 days at 4000 per day, 168,000 songs in a season, a record excelled probably by the Vireos alone. His alarm note is now chw-ree, with a strong vibrating nasal sound on the last syllable. Often, as with other thrushes, a soft low whistle is uttered, Aee-o-o. One of his characteristics is that, when singing, it takes a great deal to frighten him. One can stand almost directly under his tree, but he will continue to sing on, seemingly oblivious of your presence. After the young hatch, little time is lost before beginning the southward journey. While very abundant on the island during autumnal migrations, I have observed but a few stragglers in Kent County ‘during Stewart Edward White. 8 that period. Many of our readers will be pained to learn that James M. Southwick, the Rhode Island naturalist, has been confined to his We all bed during the last ten weeks. wish him a speedy recovery. 0.& O Vol.17, Aug,1892 p. 114-115 B. 6. Hise ba! 64. Bilbe. LE waz 64 Ls lus ; ey Los = ale Pb Ses eis - a . i. - LG = Jo = Couccat ch Sheen) j ft 2 “18496 {Tw thenba 144 peeks Sgt bes Ge ay * re Bou tbe igi aS A. TT $0 189 © es jas x ol lt t[ (0 Bost §+ (3+ spo ide ree, - hoes bord nubfos: : Mk Se oan accel ree aE Nss-dnarn (705% nae. Cored j are Be IS 103 1% prams 594 ae Polbrtens 93%, LF Goon F) K 4/892: 10% 1898 aia é 19 pho one, 1890 2 Eek to SO 2/2 222 233 24! Gremd ISZ6, I} tar He, Ce Commer Tron ~®) 1 oes 1897 SH Br Bas Is! [422 pee a5t 309 (7' [Sux Be ke ie 169 183° Corson 1¥9¥ Us, 4 39 AY! 27 @ 300 Grek rte Is74 69. Mt. k. BE TS 7 Wye l® Ge G. > Cover a ve 164, 194 Lod 228 23% LE Ast £68 £G* L948 Gos LYS LE LZ LEY Jor J/* Cord | 45? 46% f° 1993 is° Pig BOE I87h Tis 9 182 Aap Gonerl SEGE B07 LiL # 78 6? (e92 1974 [S75 32 * 1893 PERE 18. ae ao fase FO T6IS U4 Liksnce Coreen (614 Hastern Massachusetts. a fs Bomar Yh 11. = Body Kir (84 [692 /§-93 SY. W595 IS fd ‘ve We EFL (98, ISGS- [69 His Ser hens potas hess. WMbrese He ghaac RETA en at 7 Fe Prusteal 7s, tte Stoney ok je pn es picssye Py PE Nas eee fe lar Fh Pixs Intron ae Hu al pete oh ee yo eae A Bsa dfore forty Aix oe By 7/13) plise Ibi Poel D( Todos ep fren wit Kent Unurba « th, grveene » Ne bent Mhinnr ob bare (Gu.l3%14) CA nerd, Re ns eee ee ee J tan bh a boagh Mer. ae Maran geita deg Bey (Mag h/ and fro a Acspee Ard. Do pach at heel asian ALG plc, Contin the” * (done, Clin Mag 3/05 ) rE OR De a ee, ae ee Big gine’ aly Beverly Paka, Fove 88 heaich wip Kantor ¥ at abba Lae ff. 6 er ee Zi ee cS Jin. SE IN set whe fra Apne te Pan sib coe Banni1dr Abnrebned r+ i / Aiba Harr (eae, ae nwa plows BAL ge b pee tre Es ew Dive. @ ) queue Cot aig xd cre eee UMe jor also oY ted (6 oo , (oMm at Les ae , Heng, # MEL aud arrvothn. hot. dalla acne RE ie Dorie fut. et A Crthath of Le if 4 lé, [647 bry bad forty ia opp tad , bl an Mol ae a Ubruabes ate ee cise Cofn Cl. Oo ae | SEEN Se ZL ey gipdee es Ries eee aoe sinc eae Donne Gonan fF Harare es é Yad See ms rare” bo oti aut as eis hale Se Fenecnecly, Rept Conlirn , ern eed shas (i oe I$74 ficans | es Jithtty Va i Me fperavon Cle fee [fon bigs | Fad Creey @ Bay aby PA ee ne a TA evi ot Splltrbey Mette , /§ 95: diy A dniyle De sib? alte ays aa 9 ANG oe RS EU EY Ae eds, «es RE Afr teh Kena On fpr ae fox ae OCe a ee oe ae font Cw Fem fan me Oe Bbw thrdo Contrary Wi, Old Bnop i. TH. ars 4 GeH alee C Ln Ann pe ales Ips AN ‘oe sheng a we am diag 1 A Re : A Fenie-i Pisin a pe” ert Horror .[ 0. of OM e ‘ a t : cakes ie Tem prob, LY 9S> a V4 Ll po Monn Prowrbon Pipcce Park wh Po” ne te / Obs Lin F Waverly, Mass, This afternoon in the grove by the Waverly Hospital=besides j three Robins =there was a dear Hermit Phrush;-the first one I ever found in winter Walter Paxon (letter January 12, I891). Woar” n, Mass. month — ited my Hermit Phrush ground later in the It is the same. Hoffmann vis and found two there, feeding on the privet perries. spot where I saw one last winter in January. It looks as if the Hermit's presence here in winter was hardly an accident. Did you know that Bolles saw one last month in Cambridge? Walter Faxon (letter Maren 3, 1892). 1¥ 9s Ce. /7-3/ Lone te ans, Wyn ANE Lene TaN Laat i RRS i nth st . yl a | eta ass cae poke, 1395 “nam: | Ohu. (7- 2.3 Cen 40. COU ile ee a Pts paar Aang xt ab genes: Iney 4 Gorenck . ae hie a OPES ica set bay Seth bee Gms ook had | Ltt on The Bécclirmns Co 12 tany fn otnX fata attr > bood POMEL Gv at ae eM Ie VP ex es ale SEL aE The lr hyo Un fan atvanaudt. | frru.]. | Tnano,, Berhephar2 Lo. | Jat 2-4 FGaPale (On wear), 7 wvGek bie siyty. [Jorn] SGol Get. 2629 Cokrirye - Cork canfl~ Qld heard) om Ta wna ii¢ Turdus a.pallasii. Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass, 1898, Hermit Thrushes are also rather common apout this pond June 17. (Foster's Pond in the southern part of the town) though I Nave not met with them elsewhere, Extract from letter of Howard I.¥Ford. is Moi ae ae 4a ee | Hen Na Biogdes Pcl ame de Vaca Morr ae oe ong Syn HAG e ee t....4 9: Pes Oe ae eee ne Opti A op re ON Oe Bie PRA. Ars — Ua A og Gn & cf en Meteo a Lf ks pp aK No ee 3 oa bi phe Luther» 0 but “fir v~ Yeklrwrk LKB Phortrg Mea A Litt tind te, 2fite rhs ae ae e Wace Gee es OQA b. Bete Aw CFE POE 5 Ps eo Zhe a souinie iaaa Fee et oy Sy . a. avi fit fe Orth fous ie) pil SN SERS NO 22 AA gaa Wane re ee ee Meee Be ae aS Artihirtarnn Abide botan 26, K WA hick LA : : Oo Af fprorion Ti eo AL agen | ae } th Bae, em th. i stan ae PO as ee = ee ee he: ye oe oN J) ee JEM on eer Vehpeetis, : eee lL a pellet | tril bs. Cyzocetal fb (0 gare yer 2itte phate giwtlecie ee} epee (2L0€ wee hase weed bests Lbve ee oe ee Se SL oe Lucard @ PULL ZZ eke LLELLL. Coxe. yee ON Ge es gt A gaged GY 23> ZA Sa PE i bled ees Bete ots lg cher ent 24 wee LAL LOECL Beta LICL PLPLLE he eee tate Lee ls ae | Scarcity of Thrushes. Concord, Mass, 1893, g One of the most marked phenomena of this interesting spring is the extreme scarcity of some of the small Thrushes. The Hermit Thrushes passed us in sueh very small numbers that Hoffman saw only four, Faxon but two or three, while I met with just one! The Wilson's Thrushes appeared at about the usual time and in fair numbers but not a single Olive-back or Gray-cheek has been as yet reported, Faxon thinks they are yet to come but it seems to me more probable that ghey have followed the example of the Hermits and passed north by some / other route, Turdus a.pallasil. Concord, Mass. Scarcity. 1894, Set 21 to Nov.2l. Hermits Thrushes have been exceptionally scarce. There was a solitary bird at Ball's Hill on the leth, 15th & 17th of November. On the first of these dates when the ground was covered with snow to the depth of five or six inches I saw aft er this bird, a little sunset, eating black alder berries in a swamp, Turdus a.pallasii. Peterborough, New Hampshire. @ 1898. If the Hermit Thrushes of this region suffered serious July 5 losses in the South during the terrible winter of a few win- to yeas Aug.15. ters ago (their numbers have been since materially diminished in most parts of New England) they must have recovered very rapidly for I have never seen them more abundant than they have been here this season. During July they were singing almost everywhere and in white pine -woods anda old pastures growing up to pines and spruces one might aften hear two or three - and sometimes even four - males at once. They were in full song up to and including August 2nd when they ceased véry abruptly and generally although I heard a pird singing continuously on the evening of August 6th and another at the same hour on the following evening. During July they sang more or less freely through the day when the weather was cloudy or cool, bat when it was clear and warm they were or- dinarily silent except in the early morning and at evening. I noticed that ag evening, after finishing singing, they regularly called to one another for several minutes before going to sleep, using chiefly the low, whining, canary-like e-e-e-e but also giving, not infrequently, the clear, whist- ling note which they use when migrating at night. A Hermit Thrush was singing gloriously but sotto voce i of white pines on the ternoon, Rarely have I heard a finer tance of thirty yards I could only just hear the lower r ee r. 44 [ estimated Peterborough, New Hampshire, Numbers reduced about one half from those of last year. §& Aug. The reduction was not uniform over the whole region for in some localities - as in the swale near the Day's - the were as common as usual but in many places where we found them last season they were wholly absent this They sang regularly up to August 5th this year, the distance by the bird's cluck for I did eka ame Veer. Ky Coechhe ff peLlan | CK eleven o' Loew ae me ae ime rn Ain eo ee BR dee 7 te om Meri Vhrnk , i he aural Ceenputer ple (-e Creer eq ered 6 An Catatpa Ox poms Ge feexX— Gray te we wt 8 : pee nergy eed tks OS es een att d vr derstiihut POW Ge sre re ak M~ Ltr Ar—1s. ares ee ara ae: os ee ala ty oh i eel ne ips wep i eek eale 7-30 wer 1G ° abne AS , ' (oa Ww 2A hi | ets LO ap Oe Boag Ve eR Gero - oP A fenton SAS id fn ont Cert om bina. Welt ss" \Oeae « car a oi ls~ a a : ee Ae QZ: ed , o > » fiek UT eae IN ator Irarcny fs le ae wp h®. Apt Ai TFS PRR, pe xo i A Fe ei 1 Aeneas Gee mae hi OS ee) tty a aN AR rae eet occa le anf he fro mh aig minted, Sees [RAP Bhai C2 Se ee a Pa eee Chea eaed Kylee. 5. pellarc Wy aud fowl SG SRN he ee oe eS a ce “7 (nek 52 cee Oe ORM ONES mame 2 eal pera M2229 clair, Kew Tat lx Cig Levys framy i mpeny et Dawe Tey ie Spanrrah Be fece lg Se ED Ol on Oh Bay hot Bee Ee See mae, Br CL ppr2% Tr AS™ [lx fc oS fief) tnt idee pea uate Reese ie Tie oa ee PLAMA Vi aaa a wh hbo Be OSes x Gags rn Aes PLE 8 oh a cae = fe an) TT es Nt rn "al, iris Sain “Jen yf Chow | ae pie #5 oT et eee I~ Crier pop ee ee ieee ke ena Ai fee rie Can ww od ile ahs pGce acy Cran, i~ fa i fe es / Ch 4 CTE pe aoe ee CO pf ee eek Ki eat ee “Oven fa prae # vere face aes s) ts RE hy * Ih, loectha i poate: L904 ( pow If & Sein jf ths. joas¥” iene ae. Ue TL. Neon Cae im eat i ens. =e foes oa 3 OAS OS BN mad AV ty kt treracur, Ler Aeuerd Ce Soe RODS aN ype ard BE BE BH Woe a) Falher: Jon: Af a ‘one bron PE eng Onn Sp a ee, a OL oa SP de LR ar een live the re po Glisrptenc Cimercn suecheect / Cerne & He tears » ord, Guhay att of The wo TMD at 7 6 (COM ‘ Vie 0A OWA Fw, ih he ee, f faterG tn he Flor (Ske C0, Crleg bay Al , Chae f 7 urotetst fares eee ae se ee fr ge Ay ateke ucALA , es, ea tae fer bs. CEL [don VW eA Ay 5 Se Sie bh ies ot ae I¥e 22s Nae ee ae DS ge SEER a, Sih a eae oa ee far SOR Cin tr) Aa btetrig af, ) Jet om ( epi Anat leg - (ae el Vee ey ey if bitte alf neg a Fen Chen Menen) Aeron 26" 1307 Sind repens Tel gees stale Fe RB! AS LER PF Os Ae ah nik tha CK a! Tt ig ee (i. Cina b my bo eon! atl Vaz if SMR ETC Mew Bh ate Nee ee ees Be: BW ATi OA a Th ee Cars } Ane ee Me 2 Lk Fle Sepsis gear wehbe) eg Sele a PPAR, hf NX fer ieee OMe , carers be Leos Amar Po eee Wcmauee pom AY Gs (OV Rice ens Ha eWay 1 he ceene at OND MAR Yar yearn lew, Fale ES b he. Te UK cote, 7 beta: CO comme 2 oe c. tele as ite. ahead SOR bce. 1Fo* ofan: 6 op tees SEL tee ea ia hatf oteLuck F iS ee oo MM a Oe ee. rape are seca, legis Soi OMA fenwrn WMG, eleven Gay occefinete bi v3 ae . Ce [ete Dun ; tinged (S pre elt ae fate £eor Me Anan! at Cor¥ eed he SEU eae oon CJ kK Hor WER TN PN re TOD ak ile ee SE, (reotier bear, wher Cx Anker eit Garber cee Sted Kg: f ™ Ge ‘9 a (ere awdst- 2 RE ee OR cA Cd ALE OO IG ote I (2 tees ee 7 ser? Rie Sus et 2) GMM ee hes) Se cea a8 Ket, GS a Geet ¥ eee. on Wn FOR un Jiu. ety Cafe ‘ Cu. Mea A Gow [Liege - Dae q } Fue. 7 ee Sa iq Pe et Nee tee Any: ev, yes gs one (aie bss 4 PAO leat vay be 7 R Silene Nakina 02 Pel! Bt Pal eter de Sve PRS pace) SEE ak ee eee ee, exes 5 eg er een Ped of 2 2 Lary wal , TEMA EE Sigs Gal Ss Shik © shee eto e/a ea Vale. Pa fis ff O Zone frat f, ts rey oath : ALG ck, ce Oa py 9 eM, ust Aer x yikes ie See NIE Weg ; { UOn bE. Pa ah | June 10.—Flushed a Hermit Thrush, Hylocichla unalasce pallasi. Between you and I, Mr. Editor, do you think it is a ‘square deal to give this innocent bird such a name? Don’t you think if that bird had _to sign his name often, say as president of a silver mining company with well watered stock, don’t you think he would — dash Mr. Ridgway and trinominals? O con- fess to a strong desire to cling to the “Turdus” of other days, but I suppose I must display my acquaintance with the “new nomenclature” or, like the fellow who the grave digger in Hamlet condemns for not having been at court, I shall be “surely damned” in the eyes of your sci- ‘entific readers. Well, this long named party got up off three eggs laid in a nest on the ground under the protecting shade of a low bending limb of a spruce tree. A visit to the nest two days after determined the fact that it had been deserted, and Mr. | Banks says “I have observed that this spe- _ cies of bird frequently deserts a nest after | it has been discovered.” Sofas, WIS. M1. Chormbirla Opak. OLoO. Vi 1562. p: ee Summer Bas. Restigouch July,’88. j.Brittain an Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. where. Birds of Magdalen Ielands. Dr. L.B.Bishop. 65. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Hermir Turusy.—Common, breed ing on most of theislands. Iwas quite surprised to finda single bird of this species apparently thoroughly at home on Great Bird Rock. A more unsuitable place for a bird fond of the deep woodscannot be imagined. Auk, Wl. April, 1889, p.149-/159 Long Island Bird Notes. Wm, Dutcher 24. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii.. Hegmir Turusu.—A case of the probable breeding of this Thrush on Long Island has come to my notice through the kindness of Mr. Charles Earle, of New York City. On the 23d of September, 1878, near, Lake Ronkonkoma, he secured a Thrush of this species in the nest- ing plumage, and on the next or the following day another im the same plumage. Both specimens show conclusively that they are very young birds, each being in the undeveloped feather-stage peculiar to altricial birds just leaving the nest. As both speci- mens were taken in the same neighborhood, it is presumable that they were nest companions, although one is some days more de- veloped than the other. I have shown them to Mr. J. A. Allen, ‘who informs me that he knows of no instance of Such immature birds migrating. C4 Auk, 3, Oct., 1886, », 4Y3- YY. e Valley, N-B. d P. Cox, Jr. Hermir Turust.—Observed every- Auk, Wl. Apri, 1889. p.1lle Birds Of Upper st Batchelder," 9°22 3. Turdus pallasi Cadan. Hermir Turusn.—Common. One nest taken May 30 at Grand Falls was about three feet from the ground in a ___smaill fir tree. Bull, N,O, 0; ver Anrdi], 1889, p,108 Summer Birds of Bras D'Or Region Gaps Breton Id,, N.S. J. Dwight,Jr. 58. Lurdus aonalaschke pullasiz. ky 4, Jan., 1887, p.16 _Birds, Haute Island, Bay of Fundy, July 26 1887. W.L. Bishop, Kentville, N.S. procikerer i Hermit ‘Vhrush, Lurdus mussetinus, very ‘common. > 0.&0, XII. Sept. 1887 p,i45 ds of Sudbury, Ont. i.e Alberger, 59D. Hermit Thrush. Tolerably common, | Miles of Point vomeau & Merriam >. Turdus unalascee nanus. Hermit FurusH.—Tolerably common; breeds. N,O,0, 7, Oct, 1882, p,.234 Ornithological Trip to St, Bruno, P.Q. i May 25,1885. H.D. Wintle, Montreal, Qiurdo i Crees, Conadca, Hermit Thrush, scarce. Founda nest contain- - IF, Sere ee ing four eggs incubated; bird on the nest was NM, Pavd 63 identified. It was well concealed in a grassy Qu k bank on the outskirt of a woody ridge. This bird et by al ee a ge, was remarkably shy when I approached the nest, 288. Hylocichla guttata pallasii. Hermir THrusa.— Abundant mi- _ which I did several times. It would slip quickly | grant, April 13 to May 10, and September 23 to October 23; earliest off the nest and then keep out of sight until I hid _ spring record, April 8, 1898; earliest fall record, September 19, 1906; | myself, when it would return to the nest. there are several late records (November 20, 1901), and Dr. K. C. Mellwraith O.&O. XI, May. 1€86, p, iim observed one from November 21, 1903, to the following January. Last Dates Migratory Birds observed by H.D. Wintle, Fall1885, Montreal, Can. Oct .} & “Her- mit Thrush, O.&0, XI, Mar.1886. p, yz, Dwight, :-ummery Girds of Prince Bdward island. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii, Hermit “ THrusu.—Slightly more abundant than the preceding species, and perhaps more generally dis- tributed. The songs and notes of this species have been so frequently confused with those of other Thrushes, particularly with those of the Olive-backed Thrush, that an effort on my part to call attention to the differences that exist between them may not be without interest. The deliberate character of its song is in marked contrast to that of swaznsondi and its musical ability is more varied. The usual song dies out without the rising inflection of swazusond7, and there is a pause after the first syl- lable, while in swazusoni? there is no pause and the second syllable is strongly accented, the whole song being quickly delivered. The Hermit Thrush has also a nasal note of complaint in two ellided syllables, a cluck like a Blackbird, and a lisp not unlike a Cedarbird. The nasal note has its counterpart in swazusouz? which utters a similar, but more liquid note, and the cluck of pallas¢7 may be compared with a ‘puk’ or ‘pink’ (as near as it can be represented) of swaznsond?. The lisp is peculiar to pallasiz, while there is a queer multiple note of soliloquy peculiar to SWatnsontit. Auk X, Jan, 1893. p.i5 Auk, XIV, July, 1897, p.345- Absence of Turdus aonalaschke pallasii at Tadousac, Quebec, in 1896.— The almost complete absence of the Hermit Thrush from the vicinity of Tadousac during the summer of 1896 was very noticeable. During six weeks spent there in June and July, the only evidence I found of the presence of the birds was a single family seen one day late in July. In other years this species has been nearly as abundant as the Olive- backed Thrush (Z. w. swazsonz?), and many of each could be heard every day, but last summer the Olive-backs alone were heard, and I wondered where the Hermits had gone. The freeze of a couple of winters ago which was so destructive to the Bluebirds in the Southern States, doubtless is responsible, in part at least, for the sudden diminution in the number of Hermits, and I have already seen some allusion made to this species as one of the sufferers. —JoNATHAN Dwicut, Jr. M. D., New York City. Sur dus prakopen. . 1576 Penobscot Bay, Maine, Deer Mend. Tome 20% 2)% O20 A3h 2b, 25k 265.073 8h Vuly la Se He SY O% Zoe Ge 710% ME IB ISK 14% Jacl y Sole On Hout : Pin wooly bormtact ¥ fi PUNO Brunet q Vemma fas nn A 6 f { SON We UR aL Om va wrang baany oflix Cn Cage Sa sais | Prasat Raul Cunul bt a Cru tony Cote Hiei. — SVlacve Flees. Hylocichla unalasce pallasi (Cabaz.) Ridgw. Hermit THRUSH. — These birds breed commonly with us every year (Bangor). Their eggs are usually taken early in June, but I find among my notes the record of a set taken August 5, 1873, at Dedham, Maine, the eggs being but slightly incubated. This would seem to be presumptive evidence for the belief that these birds raise two broods in a season. VA anrey Perth, JFanzor, vee, Bull, N.O.0, %,July, 1882,p, /9/. ] Knut protons Visth yn we Gage t I found a nest of the Hermit Thrush Ausust 13th with The bird was settings on them, but I think she did MOG Tinish Tayaaye, | 759b. Hermit Thrush. Shot an adult and |ayoung ¢ at Boothbay. Birds of Dead River Region, Me. F. H.C. 3. Hylocichla unalasce pallasi, (Hermit Thrush). One of the typical birds of the dense forests of Maine, the Hermit Thrush was commonly found in this region. In the spring this species is more conspicuous, as at that period of the year it bursts forth into song, but during the latter part of summer when passing through the woods I have seen many of these birds sitting on the limb of some spruce tree, motionless and alone, scarcely flying out of reach when approached. Owing to such demeanor they were easily overlooked, even by the few who penetrate the vast silent forest they inhabit. A nest was found containing young, in the alder swamp near Tim Pond. It was placed on a dry mound, in a heap of rubbish left by the spring flood. The nest was a frail af- fair, but could not be examined, owing to its con- tents. Thesong of the Hermit Thrush is exquisite, and during the first part of June it was heard at morning and evening. The song of birds is about the only part of their life habits which can not be given on paper, and I have noticed that scarcely do two persons interpret a song the same, both will have a different rendering of the same song, | | this may be in part due to the state of the feelings | of the hearer ; in my own Case it has been very ap- | parent with the song of the species under con- sideration. When after a hard day’s tramp, I have lain wrapped in my blanket under the | triendly protection of a wide branching hemlock, listening to my guide as he related some tradition handed down from the days when his ancestors’ | wigwams stood on the banks of the fair Penobscot until drowsy nature nearly asserted herself, then the vesper song of the Hermit Thrush distinctly uttered far up on the mountain side, would fill the air with its sweet strains, and at its cadence both of us, stoical half-breed and tired civilian, would under the influence repose into a dreamless slumber; yet on the morrow morn, when standing | in the bow of the frail birch-bark canoe, held | tremblingly among the rushing rapids of Spencer. ‘stream by the brawny arm of my companion, with nerves strung to high tension, as I endeav- ored to bring to net a vigorous two pound trout with an eight ounce split-bamboo for my rod, and when successful and the toothsome fish lay in the canoe, then the matin hymn of the Hermit Thrush ag it sounded clear on the morning breeze seemed | to my ear like the triumphant pean of victory, but perhaps the critic, ummoved by surrounding ' circumstances, could have perceived no variation from the notes uttered at eventide. 0.&0. XI. Aug. 1886. p, 114 A ve y ' See leks. = en nate r bff I Spy Midas _f ae J 17 Bye Beach, N.H.1871, feller pl, a7 ne Beach, N.H.1872. Aarduns fatter’. Joly Es, 30) dug.s> Bve | | Bye awe July 28-24 1885, Vi A vt Wadiad abate. Grr b tures wer (LU %/ \\ | 4 | pan, patter. ia Meus, 6 Profile House N, H. July 2'7-Aug. 7.1886 Lt ae | L664. | fy he f § 8 g - ~ 4j A. Summer Birde of Presidential Ran White Mts, A;P.Chadbeusuy Hermit Turusu.—Saw nothing of It . 46. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. the bird except on the way up the mountain by the carriage road. was common as far as the second mile post, but none were seen beyond with the exception of a single specimen seen at an elevation of 3300 feet. Auk, 4, April 1887, p.108 Summer Birds of Presidential Range, White Mts. A.P,Chadbourne 2. From the low intervale lands nearly to the second mile of the carriage road 7. a. pallaszd outnumbers 7. wu. swatnsonzt. Auk, 4, April 1887, p.103 le House, N. H, Aug. 1-12-1867. ; \ f ft é f y a" ; } a Play fet atc, a. Ce / b-pf-f at Seentr Rye Beach, N.H.1872. oe Reach, N.H. July 28-24 1885, hide, Addu held. wae Bu a does ; v Af f Ve A t / re ws 2 » bud petlen s Ie), 6 Profile FouseaN, H. Inlv 3'7-A 4 Sut Mey (AUS. TL BBE fu (656 Ke) ws Pa Cc Lv Vii © ame x ypaageen7e OO af wy Ge) y, f 27. = a ics Shoo x oe 7? tm ri vad a meer 4 Ara? t wy ‘ ¢ \ S c Ys i ¢ A mn Orf ‘ 7A rrp, wer v2 4 joes » em by / / wny 730577. _ “7 2 ie) as 4 » é Fy ae enna a, 2. > BAY ee es IIH Summer Birds of Presidential Range, » hite Mts, A.P,Chadbourns 46. Turdus aonalaschkee pallasii. Hermir TurusH.—Saw nothing of the bird except on the way up the mountain by the carriage road. It was common as far as the second mile post, but none were seen beyond with the exception of a single specimen seen at an elevation of Auk, 4, April 1887, p.l0s 3300 feet. Summer Birds of Presidential Range, White Mis. A.P,Chadbourne 2. From the low intervale lands nearly to the second mile of the carriage road 7. a. pallaszz outnumbers T. u. swatnsoni?. Auk, 4, April 1887, p.10s Birds Obsvd. near Holderness, N.H June 4-12, 85, and4-1l, '86,W.Faxon i TH S .—Common. 6 Turdus aonalaschke pallasil. HERMIT THRUSH Auk, V. April, 1888. p.161 Bds. Obs. at Franconia and Bethlehem N.H. July-August, 1874. J,A.Alilen 48. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Common. Auk, V. April, 1888. p.156 i i i) 1-21 Bds. Obs. in Franconia, N.H. J une 1 786, and June4-Aug. 1,°87, W.Faxon Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Hrermir TuarusH.—Common. Auk, V. April, 1888, p.158 Birds Obs. at Moultenboro,N.H. duly 2i-Aug. ii, 1883. F.H.Allen Turdus aonalaschke pallasii.—Quite common. Auk, VI. Jan., 1889.0. 79 Birds Obs. at Bridgewater, N.H: July 1a-Sept. 4, lass. Fil Allen Turdus aonalaschkze pallasiitCommon Auk, VI. Jan, 1889. p.'7'7 i otes, Central N. H. ‘Winter'91-02 saeaeiee J. H. Johnson | Hermit Thrush, November 9th. | 0.& O.Vol.17, May 4892 pi 72 2 J ; Jor h YX ARS C oe ons w ie > Qarnad Paw Xs area ; w doh herarrcd Po tet OO 84. Hylocichla aonalaschke pallasii, Hermir Tux ¢su.— During my first visit to the mountain in 1899,.I listened in vain for the Hermits, and in 1900, I heard but one. They are certainly not numerous at the base of the mountain where I stayed, and I am quite sure there were none om the mountain or along the Notch road. Mr. Torrey writes me, how- ever, that at the time of his visit in 1885, he heard the Hermit near the summit, “ singing freely.” Mrs. Straw reports them as rather common at certain points lower down the valley. 1377. | foes Gg Ah he | Abe Yat h, bae thet & Yrlowan Ce Beilia ftere UEO Apt 1X Mass. (near Cambridge). 1887 — Opt L/* | Vurdud pelle Mass. (near Cambridge). 1688 APR 252 | OL 167 You 2 = 420d Ayelet} 4. Party a [99K | 2 Ra eT oe ey Weed Gu. Ghat a) poles ee eee ae tia scan, Keer Ate fms of Oe excl Ce AbhaArAt Sno (Wrebsta ) /EES am gy bib v Finn clin prctbhaty a Mass. (near Concord ). 1887 Fiance 43 okey 1622 | PO) ety Pia: 7 veal ahd AE Ty Tx Pine ary porn ies Gaeised SR Aricl Als | pan ibaa % bape - Pais oe ee Cog q “7, Middlesex Co. Mass, ue } UAelead A wth then June 25-30, 1889. ™ au fare 3 x Ore AL Wary Ao psrAtet Pas atrwt ai a / t po ,, ’ 5) WAL Von hv Witt Wo Lcgote Oe ey ? br FF oe a 3 y £ Z iy. AaA~ ? . AT A 2 eR ‘ a Rh Stee (oe tae oF Via pre te y CALL te £ ¢ 4 ; y) WrsdcicteRei ee Oe 5 az AU SD pack toe ceed bel Cha UA ¢ é fi hte 4 j j et. 7 atte, pep bettas / 9 y : y pad Whine? [67 — Tce. LY 29 82 26-1887 a ff IPS (67 17= 15 1988 WEE fen weeds nk tfrnees ae Perse haa * dvawfr. Nierx led eta eee Y, hen tar Abie Sondica pollen Fit n, Mass. Jyne, 1888. _ iyWinchendon, Mags. 1aPO, By 4 #almouth, Maps, 1880, x a¥: Ig “3 ‘a d HA o nh a § ie en oa / ae Notes on Birdsof Winchendon, Mass, William Brewster. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii.—An abundant bird throughout the entire region, haunting by preference dry, rather open, white pine woods. Auk, V, Oct,, 1888, p.393 “irds Kaown ar, Winchend Jarrelirs [es 7 | 80. er aonalaschke pallasii. to Pass Breeding Season on, Mass, Win. Brewster Auk, V, Oct,, 1888, p.389 UT To te AAR, Diino A : Lf. Ce. joe. /Another good capture was a Hermit Thrush, which I took on Christmas day in a pine grove, in company with a flock of Robins. 1681. Year I30s len. Bull, NiO.0, 8,July. 188S,p, /4 oP Notes on Birds of Winchendon, Mass, William Brewster Turdus aonalaschke pallasii.—An abundant bird throughout the entire region, haunting by preference dry, rather open, white pine woods. Auk, V, Oct,, 1888. p.393 Diy | Kt § Fe x rds re) Pa i 7 no ; +L s now D tO Pass *SSCling peason or, W Cc. € a he M BS Wim, Brew ed r /in shen lor as A, ay 2 e 346] aonalaschke pallasii. Auk, V, Oct,, 1888. ll ry pu ‘ ae ae a Le OVELE prir.ar 7 Vy tle wee (7s Lt oes: AA ae En ee Petes uw Wii eae ha OM. Ht. (e. gee Another good capture was a Hermit Thrush, which I took on Christmas day in a pine grove, in company with a flock of Robins. ($81. Vear J308lm. all, NiO.0, 8,Jaly. 1888, pv. /47. Birds of Bristol County, Mass, F.W.Andros. Turdus aonalaschke pallastt (Cab.), Hermit 'Thruch. Migrant, rare. O.&O. XII, Sept. 1887 p.i41 Rds, Obs, near Sheffield, Rerkshire Oy, Mass. June 17-26, '88. W. axon 74 Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Eastern Hermir THRUSH.—Com- mon on the Taconic Mountains where it replaces to a great extent the Wood Thrush which is found only sparingly on the mountain sides. Also found to be abundant on Bear Mt., Salisbury, Conn. Auk, VI. Jam., 1889. p. 46 Bds, Obs. near Graylock Mt. Berkshire Co. Mass. June 28-Juiylé. W oPTAron 78. Turdus aonalaschkze pallasii. Easrern Hermir Turusu.—Com- mon at elevations from rooo or 1200 feet to 2900 feet. Auk, V1. April, isso, p.107. CP by WWI TP r2ws Go. Turdus pallas’.— The Hermit Thrush is another bird whose breeding range draws a line between the two principal Faune of New England, being restricted in the breeding season to the Canadian Fauna, as the Wood Thrush is to the Alleghanian.” In point of fact, the Hermit Thrush breeds regularly in Massachusetts at many places in Essex and Mid- dlesex Counties, and on Cape Cod in abundance. Authenticated nests have been taken at Gloucester, Beverly, and Concord, whilein June and July we have heard many males singing near Hyannis, Marston’s Mills, and Osterville. Its distribution in the breeding season, so far from being, as is elsewhere stated, closely coincident with that of Swainson’s Thrush, is rather to be compared with that of the Olive-sided Flycatcher, which breeds generally and most abundantly throughout the Canadian Fauna; locally and sparingly, but still regularly, in the Alleghanian, and perhaps: occasionally just within the northern boundary of the Carolinian. Bull, N.O.0, G,Oct, 1881,p, 297, Mow heng 0. Sze. Mace. | MASS. (Middlesex Co. Bee = APR 25 1888 ——— _ lh =————SSS= Grd is Paras Ate. es). a wath, Cr were: | wn NHibeam, Phy vor a Clb. frat 9 itr om fon, cack | drone, anntng Mtpres 1 ted Coddae auch filite foann , 0TaRa a Aimee, were 0p Why fennee ven tala, FLL Png bxthon REE HOR TE yar Sen NY ETT wf RRS TR RO ois. itis sibel gti fleet Boe gen The Breeding of the Hermit Thursh on Martha’s Vineyard Island.— Mr. H. V. Greenough took on July 27, 1900, a female Hermit Thrush (ALylocichla guttata pallast?) near Tashmoo Lake, West Chop, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. The bird was heard singing, and a number of others of its kind were seen, evidently of one family. The bird taken is in very worn breeding plumage. This is the first breeding record I believe for this island.— REGINALD Heser Howe, Jr., Longwood, Mass. Auk, XVIII, Jan., 1901, p.///- The Hermit Thrush on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.— Apropos of Mr. Reginald Heber Howe’s record of the Hermit Thrush on Martha’s Vine- yard the following may be of interest. In a list of birds read before the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, Feb. 2, 1899, the writer gave the Hermit Thrush as a summer resident on Martha’s Vineyard. My first experience with this bird was in August, 1897, while camping on the western shore of Lake Tashmoo, a small brackish pond in the northern part of the island. Our camp was: situated upon a small promontory which projects into the lake for about one hundred yards. Extending between this point and the shore is a cove-shaped marsh covered with sphagnum and freshened by numerous springs, On the side of the marsh near the shore the bank ascends abruptly for eight or ten feet and then slopes gradually back, at no place reaching a height of fifty feet. Covering the point and extending half a mile back from the shore is a grove of yellow pines. Here and there they have been cleared away, giving place to an undergrowth of bay, high bush huckleberry, and vari- ous species of oak. Further back fom the shore the pines have so inter- grown as to make it almost impere‘rable. Bordering on these is an oak growth which where it encroaches upon the pines makes a dense and well-shaded woods. Early in the morning we would invariably find several Hermit Thrushes near the springs. Soon, however, they would retire to the deep woods whence we could hear their songs until late in the afternoon. During each of the following summers I have made many trips to this locality, the earliest and latest dates being June 24 and September 27. Of all the days spent there I can only recall one instance, a dark cloudy day late in August, upon which I neither heard nor saw a Hermit Thrush. Although the writer has never found a nest he has seen the young birds repeatedly and feels quite confident that at least three pairs nested there during the past summer. So far my experience leads me to believe that this ‘‘ borealisland,” occu- pying less than one square mile, is the only spot where the Hermit Thrush nests on Martha’s Vineyard—HeErRBERT L. CoGGIns, Germantown, Pa. ‘Auk. Os XVIII, Jan., 1901, pp. ///-// (Cewoyy cer, Came. rR eenrdo - Hermit Thrush. One seen on the 14 and 16 of December in.the Har- vard Botanical Gardens in this city. BES i Eire sae ge. xX Jit m the Suman Rude ( Sakilre & oud, Cy Cn ongachep cls - _ Hylocichla guttata pallasii. One heard singing on the Greylock range. ope Heber Meher re Kongecr, WEA. Atk, XIX, Oct., 1902, ,, Gigaws A Winter Record for the Hermit Thrush ( Hylocichla guttata pallasit) in Eastern Massachusetts. — This species is sufficiently rare in winter in Massachusetts to make it of interest to record one seen by the writers in Longwood, Brookline, Mass., January 1, 1904. The bird was not at all shy, and was observed for several minutes within a distance of a few feet, so that its identification was easily determined. It was hopping about in a clump of trees and bushes at the edge of a small pond, now and then uttering its characteristic chuck. Another Hermit Thrush, or possibly the same one, was observed at Chesnut Hill, Mass., on January 8, 1904. It was watched for several min- utes while it was picking at a small crust of bread which lay on the snow. As the two localities mentioned are at least three miles apart, it is impos- sible to tell whether this was the same bird as the one seen on January 1ornot. Messrs. Howe and Allen in their ‘Birds of Massachusetts,’ p. 95, give only three winter records for the Hermit Thrush for this State — Francis G. anp Maurice C. Buake, Brookline, Mass. Auk, XX1, Apr., 1904, p. 293. Cured ner wir ihe Be ee ae Hylocichla guttata pallasii, P Observed on January 1, 1904, in Brook- line, Mass., and January 8, 1904, at Chestnut Hill, Mass. (Auk, Vol. XXi, p- 283).— Francis G. anp Maurice C. BLAKE, Brookline, Mass. 391-39 2, 2 _ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1904 | Dear Listener—It is-of Sueh unusua ‘currence to -see the Hermit’ Massachusetts at this . season, thought other readers of the might be interested to hear of it. On $ day morning, Jan..24, at about eight-thit ty. a beautiful Hermit, thrush, alighted. on the vine over our porch, and stayed nearly ten minutes, Was very tame, as there were four of us close by the window watching, and even when we carefully opened the door and whistled a poor imitation of a few of its notes, it only moved its: tail slowly up and down, and looked at us with interest. Its plumage was in fine condi- tion, and it looked plump and contented. If I were not so well acquainted with Her- mit thrushes, I should have hardly be- lieved my own bird-eye, but Mr. Brewster, in a footnote in Minot’s book, says: “It has been found several times in midwinter near Boston.” So I am_ perfectly sure there is no mistake in its identity, | L. C. — : West Medford. i a oe t yr me ae ' Dear Listener—Your West, Medford and Boston correspondents, L. C.-and H. W. W., who have’ recorded the presence of the hermit thrush about Boston in winter, ‘will doubtiess- be interested to hear of two further records. A hermit thrush was seen on Jan. 1 in the morning at Hall’s Pond, Longwood. It was plump and active, hop- ping about in a thicket of brambles, tilting its tail and uttering its characteristic “chuck.” Another hermit thrush was seen on Jan. 3 at ‘Chestnut Hill. | likewise plump and active, and seemed in ‘a perfectly healthy condition. From ,so | thrush is wintering not at all uncommonly with us this severe season . Broo eite i ep a pi- Fe. 3.790% Dear Listener—Your West Medford corre- | ‘spondent, “L. C.,” who saw a hermit ‘thrush on the vine over the porch of the house in the early forenoon of Jan. 24, will ‘be interested to learn that another bird | observer saw a hermit thrush on Jan, 21, in Olmsted Park, He was seen as he came | on the wing to one of the little ponds, the } water of which keeps open during the | severest cold—sleek, quick of motion, pick- ing at the water's edge, running on the } snow, lifting the tail when stopping: or | perching on a nearby bough, silent but as | animated as a hermit of the summer time | ‘in the Northern forests; the bird, pre- sumably the same I had seen. also on Dec, 19 and 29 in the same vicinity. “We .cer- tainly have hermit thrushes wintering with | “us this severe season of 1903-1904,’ It is the | more remarkable since careful observation of bird life in and about Boston during the | last four winters has not before placed in my record the hermit thrush, This ice- | bound season has been chosen by the | species, therefore, to further establish Mr, William Brewster's statement, ‘‘Found sev-_ eral times in midwinter, near Boston.” | Other records of mine in December were: Stoneham, Bear Hill, Dec. 5; Malden, Pine | Banks Park, Dec. 12; Longwood, Riverway Park, Dec. 30. 2 WM _ Your readers may also be interested to ! _know that there is one other species whose | many records, it is evident that the hermit | Boston Transcript This bird was-| | . | E.G. B.andsM. Cc. B. | presence with us may be even more sur-— prising, the mockingbird. I have seen one | in the same corner of Jamaica Park, Jan. | G6, 7, 12, 13 and 23. It has, therefore, safely passed through nights of 12° to 15° below zero, Abundance of food {s present in the { berries remaining upon the shrubs. It is | asked, is not this an escaped cage bird? It | may be answered, would such a one sur- vive the extreme cold of this month? Other mockingbird records, 1902 and 1903, have. been: Melrose, Oct. 16, 1902; Duxbury, Dec. 29, 1902, and June 18, 1903, and, upon reli- able authority, continuously resident from Oct. 5 to June 18 (later knowledge of it is not mine) on a rather bleak point of land jutting out into the marshes; the Arbor- etum, 1903, Feb. 26 and 27, March 2 and 6, April 21, singing, and seen by others re- peatedly upon intervening and later dates; Nahant, Dec. 28, 1908. It seems hardly possible that these five mockingbirds were all escaped birds. On the other hand, it seems quite probable that most of them Were never caged. Except in the case of the Duxbury bird, to which a friend con- ducted me, I came upon the birds unex- pectedly in my walks. It would seem a rare experience if, under these circum- stances, a single observer has fallen in with escaped birds only. The pleasant in- ference, which fairly may be drawn, is that the mockingbird is becoming more present with us than ten years ago. When Mr. Brewster appended this one of his many valuable footnotes to Minot's “Land Birds,” one or two specimens have been taken in Massachusetts in winter, The South and the North are met to- gether in Jamaica Park this winter, for in close proximity to the mockingbird may be seen a flock of pine grosbeaks feeding con- tentedly on the berries and expressing the pleasure of companionship in soft, sweet tones, as they move through the shrubbery. Not far distant on Jan. 23 was seen another bird of the North, a Snow bunting, upon the snowy roadway of the park, where he was intently occupied in picking up his noonday meal, merely avoiding the Sleighs as they passed, and heeding them scarcely more than a house sparrow would. ‘The dense fog of the morning no. doubt gave him greater courage, and the complete envelop- ment of the landscape in snow and ice, as well as fog, must have been as congenial to | him as would be Nahant or Ipswich. It was my first record of a snowflake in the park, and it is to be credited to Brookline. It may be mentioned that a flock of robins numbering fifteen or more is frequenting the Arboretum, and that on Jan. 11 and i2 a Wilson’s snipe made a brief visit there, finding the shallow run of water over un- | frozen ground at the north gate adapted to the use of his long bill in probing for neces- sary food. ; H.-W. W. =| Boston, Jan. 28. Chowan, Wright?) Last Sunday morning; it will be remem- | bered, was quite warm and pleasant—one of | the few days of the month of which as much can be sald—and Mr. G. A. Spooner and a friend saw In Franklin Park a flock of as many as twenty-five robins, a dozen pine grosbeaks, all females, some downy | woodpeckers, male and female, chickadees, . juncos and bluejays. Tha woods feem to | be full of them, and a bright day will bring some of them out from their refuges, SrA Treterihas t+ 4. Pan. 30, /Po4| | LT shot a Hermit Thrush | the middle of January, | a N. blak, de Aheorle Come. aad oh, 0.&0, Vill. Oct 1883. p. %o A Partial Albino Hermit Thrush (Zurdus oi teagan Ae have a male of this species taken in this vicinity October 27 1885, Ww be has the top of the head and the back light gray. Below ei the pie on the breast being fairly distinct. Tail and the primaries and secon aries fawn color.— Jno. H. Sace, Portland, Conn. Auk, 3, April, 1886, p,. 22 | Notes from Connecticut, General Notes, Jno. 7 8 .go, Portland, Turdus aonalaschke pallasii.— Two nests of the Hermit Thrush, each containing three fresh eggs, were taken at Norfolk, June 20 and 23, 1893, | by Mr. Treat. He found this Thrush common there. I think the actual | nesting date in Connecticut has not previously been recorded.— Jno. H. Sacre, Portland, Conn. Auk! &; Oct, 1898 pb The Hermit Thrush Breeding in Litchfield County, Connecticut.— On July 23, 1910, I found a nest of a Hermit Thrush near the top of Bear Mountain, Litchfield County, Connecticut. The nest was about a half mile south of the Massachusetts line, and two or three miles east of the New York line, and at an altitude of about 2300 feet. The bird was flushed from the nest by a companion who was walking with me, and I had only a momentary glimpse of it as it flew away. Although I re- mained in the vicinity of the nest for quite a long time, the bird did not return, but the glimpse that I had was sufficient to show that it was neither a Wood Thrush nor a Wilson’s Thrush. The locality and construction of the nest, and the size and color of the eggs, seem to conclusively estab- lish that of the remaining possible thrushes, the bird must have been a Hermit Thrush. Dr. Louis B. Bishop, of New Haven, Conn., agrees with this identification, and tells me that it is the second record for Connecticut. The nest was placed on a broad flat rock, under the shelter of a blueberry bush, and was embedded in gray moss. The nest was deeply cupped, and very neat. It was built externally of small sticks, most of them rotten and pulverized; the next layer was of grasses and fine twigs, with a good deal of green moss, and a few leaves, which, however, were not at all conspicuous, the moss being worked up around the edge of the nest, so that the general outer appearance of the nest was chiefly green. The nest was lined en- tirely, and very neatly, with long pine needles. There were two fresh eggs in the nest, which measured .63 < .83 inches. They were a pale blue. Upon comparison with my series of eggs, I find that the blue is somewhat darker than that of a Bluebird, but fully as light as either a Robin’s or a Wood Thrush’s. Compared with the eggs of the Wilson’s Thrush, the eggs are strikingly blue, and without any pronounced greenish tinge — Louris H. Porter, Stanford, Conn. Auk 27,0cte1910 p, 464 es | Lave Breepine or THE Hermit Torus IN ‘Norruern New Yorx.—On the 24th of August, 1879, Dr. Frederick H. Hoadley and myself found a nest of the Hermit Thrush, containing three fresh eggs, at Locust Grove, in Lewis County, New York. It was on the ground, near an old log, in | an open place in the woods ; and I almost stepped on it before the parent bird flew off. Two weeks later there were three young in the nest. They were very small and helpless, and evidently not more than | a day or two old.—C. Hart Merriam, M. | D., Locust Grove, N. Y. 0.& 0. V1l. Nov. 1882.p.17/ Seme Birds of Lewis Co, N, Y, C. Hart Merriam rhe Cae a (Gal mba hf 204 0 Byrdus Ballasi, ee f~s ae ae “ Bull. N.O.0, 3, April, 1878. p.53 Arriva!s of Mig’y Birds Ss es »Spring-1886 Central Park,N, Y. City. A.G. Paine. Jr. April 10, Zurdus aonualaschke pallasti, (7590). | Hermit Thrush. | 0.%0. XI, July.ises, p.iog Birds of the Adirondack Region, 0. B, Merriam, 5. Hylocichla unalasez pallasi (Caban.) Ridgw. Hermir Turusu. —Abundant summer resident. Bull, N,O,0, 6,Qct, 1881, p, 226 430. Late Breeding of the Hermit Thrush tn Northern New York. By C. Hart Merriam, M.D. /J/drd., p. 171.—Fresh eggs found August 24, 1870, at Locust Grove, Lewis Co. O.&Q. Veal, Vil Notes from Western New York. Maurice C.Blake, Hanover,N.H. Hylocichla guttata pallasii.— Two Hermit Thrushes in song June 2 and two others June 3, 1906, in the vicinity of West River were recorded by Mr. Antes and me. It would seem that this bird is probably a not rare summer resident in Yates County. “ Nest found in Yates Co., May 29, 198." — Mpuaren, 2 BBE SOT BY Tati: 226 Notés on Some Winter Residents of Hudson Valley. EH, A.Moearns. 2. Turdus pallasii Hrrmir Turusu.— A few sometimes winter along the Hudson. In the Highlands, during the severe winter of 1874 — 75, when birds of the Canadian Fauna, such as Pinicola enucleator, Loxia leu- coptera, L. curvirostra var. americana, Aigiothus linaria, Chrysomitris pinus, and Plectrophanes nivalis, were very numerous, the Hermit Thrushes were frequently observed or shot. They were found only in the cedar groves by the river, and were very shy and silent ; only occasionally uttering, in a low tone, their customary chuck. These wintering birds remained until the middle of March, and the regular migrants began to arrive April 2. No Hermits were seen here during the past extremely mild winter (1877 —78) ; but “Mr. A. J. Huyler, a competent observer, told Mr. Ernest Inger- soll, on several occasions, that he had seen Turdus pallasi at Tenafly, N. J. [opposite Riverdale, N. Y.], during each month of the past winter, — of course notin any great numbers.” * Mr. Huyler since writes me that he “took a specimen of JZ. pallasi during the past winter, about the mid- dle of February.” Mr. Eugene P. Bicknell, of Riverdale, N. Y. (to whom I am indebted for many valuable notes on our winter birds), writes me: “The extremes of early arrival and late departure of this species are April 11 and November 20, both dates being in 1875; though on February 28 (same year) I saw one in a grove of pine-trees, feeding on the dried berries of sumach (Rhus), and appearing quite at home. I again observed it (doubtless the same bird) at the same place, on March 28.” * J have observed a great irregularity in the migrations of this species, both as to abundance and time of arrival. Bul, N,O.0. 4,Jan.,1879, p.33 ” * There is a notice in ‘‘ Forest and Stream” newspaper of the occurrence of a Hermit Thrush, at St. John, N. B., on January 11, 1878 ; and there are numerous records of its capture, in winter, in Souther New England, Bed Nutr frm slur Islacd, ding Islas, M1. — Hermir Turusn (Ayloctchla guttata pallasii).— Very scarce during their usual migration dates. For some unaccountable reason their move- ments to the south seem to have been postponed so long that, by the advent of severe weather, many of them came to grief. A single specimen was noted on Novy. 13, 1903; next seen on Dec, 26, and again on Dec. 31. The weather was then very cold, the ground covered with snow, and the specimens were in an emaciated condition. The last chapter in the tragedy was revealed by a specimen found under the edge of a sheltering embankment, frozen to death, on January 5, 1904. The ground was then covered with snow, about a foot deep on the level, and traveling was very hard, so that I covered only a small section of country during my obser- vations, but, judging by the several instances in which I noted the birds, many hundreds must have perished, in the aggregate.—WiLLIs W. WoRTHINGTON, Shelter mec Heights, N. VY. 5 Xi, Apr., 1904, p. 297 Yeti hth toX / eee Cosy News York Unt ee. siete Lf ereuce & Cubery’ § Ulceuk, har Hylocichla guttata pallasii. Hrrmirr Turusu— Given only asa common transient visitant, which would be my verdict. Mr. Miller, how- ever, found it breeding commonly at Peterboro. By Wlhear. R. Vane, Auk, XX, Joly, 1903,p.266, Zorg Zs Bart gf, Fe; ba The Hermit Thrush as a Summer Resident of Long Island, N. Y.— Late in the afternoon of July 13, 1908, while walking along the road be- tween Holbrook and Patchogue, L. I., about two miles from the latter place, I heard a Hermit Thrush (Hylocichla guttata pallasii) singing at a distance of about a hundred yards from the road. After stalking it for more than half an hour I was able to secure a good view of the bird with an opera-glass and complete the identification, although the song, with which I was familiar, had been unmistakable from the first. Meantime the bird had been singing continually, except when I would disturb it by approach- ing too closely. I am quite certain that I heard one other Hermit Thrush singing in the vicinity at the same time. The locality is densely grown with young white oaks (Quercus alba) eaching a height of perhaps twenty or twenty-five feet, together with a few scattered pitch pines (Pinus rigida). The underbrush is composed largely of short blueberry bushes. The place is only forty feet above sea level, and three miles distant from Great South Bay. This seems to be the first adult Hermit Thrush observed on Long Island during the breeding season, though there are two previous records for immature birds (Dutcher, Auk, III, 1886, pp. 44%, 444, and Braisiin, AUK, XXIV, 1907, pp. 186-189). Dr. Braislin, in the reference just cited, says, “Further investigation will probably show that the Hermit. Thrush is, though rare, a regular summer resident on Long Island.’”’— FRANcIS Harper, College Point, N. Y. Ank 23. Oct.1908 ,p. 76/-32. Va f: harthy Log Ss 77ers Vo ws fe, A Colony of Hermit Thrushes at Yaphank, Long Island, N. Y— On the afternoon of the 25th of July, 1908, I heard an unfamiliar bird song in the woods at the easterly end of the village of Yaphank, not far from the middle of Long Island. Upon investigation I found several of the birds, but as they sang from the tops of the pines or other trees, it was difficult for me to secure a good view with my glass.. Early the next morn- ing I was more fortunate, and secured a much better view of a rather tame bird, and was convinced that I had to do with Hermit Thrushes (Hylocichla gultata pallasi) resident on Long Island in mid-summer. This idea, how- ever, was not strengthened by an examination of the literature, and it seemed from the records. quite improbable that a colony of Hermit Thrushes should reside so far south as Yaphank, Long Island, and only 40 feet above the level of the sea. Later I read with interest the article by Mr. Francis Harper in ‘The Auk’ for October, 1908, wherein he records a Hermit Thrush singing in the woods between Holbrook and Patchogue, Long Island. He also mentions the two previous Long Island records for immature birds and quotes from Dr. Braislin that, ‘Further investigation will probably show that. the Hermit Thrush is, though rare, a regular summer resident on Long Island.” From observations made during July, 1909, I may state that the Hermit Thrush is one of the most common birds at Yaphank, and that I have heard as many as four singing at one time. On one occasion on the 31st of the month, one sang for over an hour with only momentary intermissions caused by its changing its position among the trees, or by my approaching too near. It, however, was a tame bird, and very accommodating. I found that the thrushes were not only abundant in the pitch pine and oak woods at the easterly end of the village, but that they were to be met with in the woods several miles to the north, in the vicinity of Longwood manor house. This district appears then to be the chief summer home of the Hermit Thrush on Long Island, and the ornithologist may with certainty expect to hear this fine songster if he but repair to Yaphank at the proper season.— Wm. T. Davis, New Brighton, Staten Island, N.Y. . shock or by The concussion was heard by the forcing-house man s work and he, with the painters, went to the place and picked up the The thrush is mi- The glass was not either by the One was evidently frantic with terror from Station, as a Hermit Thrush and a Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Station at Geneva, N. Y., were startled by the headlong the identification was later confirmed by the writer. flight past them of two birds. , the hawk resident but not abundant— F. H. Haz, Geneva, These were later identified by Mr. B. B. Fulton, Assistant Ento- Ss: mologist of the eas) gs 3s a8 > & or a a =| 25 a E so Ae 4 oO og ow = Ou °° po aa os BS ~ 32 re) og ee ae wm B: o °c oo key Hs Pa gE oe a ae so Se 8 8 bes i= pursuit, the other conscious of nothing but its prey, for both birds rushed heedlessly past the men and after a flight of five or six rods more, dashed headlong into the plate-glass window of the residence of the Station Director, who, with his family, was away from home. broken but the birds were both instantly killed, Experiment breaking their necks. gratory here at hi bird Ask 26, Oct-1808,p, 475~ 376. Notes concerning certain birds of Long Island, New York. By William C.Braislin, M.D. Hylocichla aonalaschke pallasii. Hrrmir Tarusa.— Mr. Wm. Dutcher has related in ‘The Auk’ (III, 1886, p. 443) the evi- dence obtained favoring the probable occurrence of this thrush as a summer resident on Long Island, but as no further data appeared in relation to the matter the possibility of its being a breeding species remained problematical. In reply to an inquiry, Mr. Arthur H. Howell kindly wrote me that he has twice heard the notes of what he regarded without doubt as the Hermit Thrush in summer on Long Island, during the time of his collecting here. He had once heard it at Lake Ronkonkoma north of the lake, and again near Coram on the old bicycle path which crosses the center of the island, connecting Port Jefferson and Patchogue. On both occasions the song was heard in the low range of hills running the length of Long Island. 'To obtain if possible further informa- tion regarding the species as a summer resident, Mr. George K. Cherrie and I journeyed to Lake Ronkonkoma on June 9, 1906, whence on foot we covered as much of the ground in the east and north as we were able on that day. ‘The list of species which we made proved most interesting to us. ‘The object of our search was not met with until almost at the end of our stay, when a single immature Hermit Thrush was shot. ‘This was the only thrush of any species and the only individual of this species seen on that date. It was found in a wood of mostly deciduous timber. In the tracts where the pines predominated Prairie Warblers, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, and Chewinks were abundant. ‘Twenty-five species of birds were observed. Neither the Wood Thrush nor Wilson’s ‘Thrush was seen. The young bird taken was probably not twenty-four hours out of the nest, in fact it corresponded in every particular with young Hermit Thrushes taken from the nest by Mr. Cherrie in Vermont the preceding season. Obtaining this young bird, practically a nestling, unable to fly any considerable distance, was satisfactory evidence to us that the Hermit ‘Thrush is a nesting species on Long Island. Our not meeting with adult birds would seem to indicate that on Long Island the Hermit Thrush is equally as shy as elsewhere, and perhaps to an even greater degree. We likewise decided, largely from the same reason — that of our not meeting an adult speci- men —that it is but a rare summer resident. In this we may be in error. The nature of the ground they occupy here may give the birds need for special caution in exposing themselves, while it is possible that they may occur more commonly in other parts of the island than in the region visited. Auk, 24, Apr. ,1907,p. /$6~/ 5 i2 Birds Observed at Coosada, Alabama Winter Food of Birds in the South, N.C. Brown 0.8. Brimley, Raleigh, N.O, i Hermit Thrush, (Hylocichia pallast). Feeds 3. Turdus pallasi, Cab, H»rmry Torusx.— Common and generally | indiscriminately on all kinds of berries through- distributed up to within a few days of my departure. 1 was surprised, in out the winter — Dogwood, Frost Grapes, Cedar this southern latitude, to find that the males became musical as spring | #24 Holly being the favorites. advanced. On March 16 I heard the first song, and during the following three weeks it was one of the commonest wood sounds. 0.&0, XII, J uly 1987 p. 10S: Bull, N,O.O, 3,Oct., 1878, p,169 Winter Birds at Princeton, N.J. -Scott 18749. On January 17, after a heavy fall of snow, there being from a foot to eighteen inches on the ground, I took a male Hermit Thrush, the only one seen during the month. Bull. N,O.0. 4, April, 1879, p.8l Birds Obsd. atGainesville, Fla. Nov. 27,’86 - May 27,’87. F.M.Chapman. 147. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Hrermir THrusu. — Abundant in the hummocks and common in the pineries. Several were heard singing January 8, and from March 10 to 26, they sang occasionally. Few were noted after the last named date until the time of their final departure, April 15. Auk, V, July, 1888. p.277 ABUNDANCE OF THE HERMIT THRUSH IN WINTER NEAR WASHINGTON, D. C. —During the winter of 1879-80, the Hermit Thrush was commonly distributed throughout the woods of the District of Columbia as well as those of Alexandria County, Virginia. As the occurrence of this species in winter is not recorded in the lists of District birds, 1, at that time, considered its appearance as exceptional and due to the unusual mildness of the season. The present winter, however, has been one of remarkable severity in this part of the country, the rivers having frozen in November, while the ground has been covered with snow, from nine to twelve inches deep, since December 20. On the 1st of January, while hunting for birds among the wooded hills which border the Virginia shore of the Potomac, I again met with this species. These hills are very wild and steep, densely coy- erved with a growth of young trees, and intersected by numerous deep ravines, through which streams of water work their way to the river. In these secluded places numbers of birds had sought shelter from the cold, which, during the night, had been intense, the thermometer registering a temperature of fourteen degrees below zero. ‘The first Thrush noticed was shot about ten o’clock in a clump of saplings a few yards from the river’s bank. In the course of the day seven other individuals were ob- served. They frequented the most sheltered and tangled portions of the ravines, principally near the summits of the hills. They were silent and solitary, and so tame that they frequently permitted an approach to within five or six yards before leaving their perch. My brother obtained another specimen in the same locality on the 4th and reported them more numerous than on the 1st. I observed three more individuals in the woods bordering on Rock Creek on the gth, a few hours after a snow storm.—GEORGE, SHOEMAKER, Georgetown, D. C. Bull, N,O.C. 6,April,1881,p, 73 ~f/ 4. Summer Birds of the Pennsylvania Alleghanies. J, Dwight.Jr. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Hermir TurusH.—Among some scat- tered pines at the top of Wopsononock Mountain I found a pair feeding their young. As the abundance of this species can best be determined about sunset, when every male is pouring forth its evening song (and the same remark applies to 7. wu. swaznson?z), 1cannot say how abundant it is at this point. Tt was not encountered at Cresson, but in the deep woods of North Mountain it found a congenial home and was very numer- ous. Often it was possible to distinguish a dozen singing at the same time in the early morning or lateevening hours. There was an overhang- ing cliff commanding a deep, narrow valley, whence at sunset even a greater number might be heard, their notes blending with those of the Olive-backed and Wood Thrushes. I have listened to the songs of all these birds many times, but never before have I heard all these species singing at the same time and had such opportunities for comparing their notes. Iam satisfied that the song of the Hermit Thrush is more beau- tiful than that of the much-renowned Wood Thrush. There isa liquid, ringing sweetness about it, that is only matched in part by the song of the latter. The notes of the Olive-backed Thrush are inferior to both, although delivered with more swing and emphasis than either. The Hermit Thrush is one of the characteristic Canadian birds found in this region. Baird did not meet with it in summer. Dr. Warren says: “This species, it is stated, breeds sparingly ifsome of our higher mountainous districts.” Auk, 9, April, 1892, 0./9/: General Notes, Some Summer Birds I of th Mountains, Penn. Witmer fone Turdus aonalaschke pallasii.—One specimen secured. The elevation and location of the Pocono plateau is such as to warrant a fauna quite as boreal as that found at Harveys Lake and North Mt.,! but the virgin forest has been entirely cleared away in the vicinity of Mt. Pocono and with it have disappeared the northern species of birds, a few only remaining in the deep ravines where they still find a congenial home in the thededen- dron thickets, and the scant growth of hemlocks which escaped the lum- berman’s axe. That the fauna of the Poconos was once quite as rich in boreal forms as the northern Alleghanies is shown by the fact that a few miles beyond Tolyhanna Mills (northwest of Mt. Pocono), where there still remains a portion of the virgin hemlock forest, my friend, Mr. Stewardson Brown found (July 24, 1893) the Junco and Winter Wren in addition to the cheated above mentioned. Mr. Brown also observed a large flock of Red Crossbills at Tolyhanna, and ina clearing near the hemlock tract, he is positive he heard several White-throated Sparrows singing. As Mr. Brown is thoroughly acquainted with this bird he could hardly have been mistaken, but it is unfortunate that he was unable to secure a specimen, as this is ? so far as I am aware, the first record of the occurrence of this species in Pennsylvania in the breeding season.—WitmMER Stone, Academ of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa. a‘ 1 See Stone, Proc, Acad, Nat. Sci, Phila., 1891, Pp. 431, and Dwight, Auk, 1892, p. 129 Auk XI. April. 18904 p, hbo: ds, Washnine:on and British Columbia Sirds, Turdus aonalaschke pallasiii Hermirr TurusnH.—The presence of this species breeding in the region around Lake La Hache, B. C., as attested by four skins in the collection, further complicates the relation- ships of this genus in the Northwest. Neither auduboné nor pallasté was found in any other part of British Columbia. I found aonalaschke breeding in the Rocky Mountains at Field. It is doubtful if audubond reaches the forty-ninth parallel. If, as seeras probable, it be found that pa/- lasti and aonalaschke breed indifferently across common ground in the central and Rocky Mountain regions of British Columbia, without the inter- vention of intergrades, a more definite separation of the two is necessitated. Owing to the limited series obtained in evidence of this, a satisfactory con- clusion cannot now be reached. ‘Two points at least are established; first the breeding of aonalaschke in the Rocky Mountains; second, the breed- ing of pallasid west of the Rockies and south of the fifty-second parallel. Auk X, Jan, 1893, p.29. The Singing of Birds, H.P.Bickneil. Turdus nanus. Hermir Turusu. Though this little Thrush is always to be found with us during its migrations, it was only after some years of observation that I discovered that it ever sang near the sea-coast in this latitude. Either it is very furtive-voiced while it is with us, or singing is exceptional. Twice only have I heard its song away from its summer home,—on April 26, 1878, and April 29, 1879. In both cases the songs were faint and of an unfinished character, and positive identification only satisfied me that they were of this spe- cies. It is probable that this Thrush sings occasionally in the autumn; for there is little doubt that I heard it on October 18, 1880. It was in the dusk of the early morning, and the song, though several times repeated, was not clearly heard. It was, however, from a /7/ylocich/a, and sounded most like that of the Hermit Thrush, the only one of the smaller Thrushes which was present at the time in any numbers. The call-note of the Hermit Thrush is very different from that of any other species of its group which occurs with us. It is a low chuck, suggestive of the note of a distant Blackbird. The Hermit Thrush possesses the singular habit of demurely raising its tail and allowing it to fall back slowly to its natural position ; this strange movement recurs at intervals and often follows the act of perching. Does it bear any relation to the characteristic caudal activity of the Water-thrushes and some of the Warblers? Auk, I, April, 1884. p. /3/. Notes- Hggs of Thrushes & Theashers. H.G. Parker. . Hermit Thrush (Hylocichla unalasce pallast). |Eggs generally four in number, average size | | | | .90x .66. Though very similar to the eggs of Wilson’s Thrush, those of the present species appear to be possessed of a much more delicate and lighter shade of blue; the-similarity like- | wise extends to the nests of these two species. In one set of these eggs minute pin point spots of black are apparent to the eye, and upon ap- plying a strong glass they appear even more distinctly. In two eggs of the set these spots are easily observed, and on the third egg en- tirely lacking. A number of applications of an acid wash have failed to remove them. The nest is found in swampy or low places, and the breeding range is from Massachusetts northward. Two sets collected in Ontario, on May 30th and June 23rd, 1886, respectively measure .89x.66; .88x.68; .93x.65; .89x.66, and .90x.65; .86x .63; .84x .62. O.&O, XII, May.1887 p. 69-70 Nesting of the Hermit Thrush. This Thrush has not until the present year been known to breed in this (Hills- boro) county. Therefore it is with great pleasure that I am able’ to announce, | through these columns, the taking of two sets the past season. The credit of taking | the first set belongs to Mr. Dinsmore, of this place, who is a most thorough collec- tor and field naturalist. The second set, which I collected my- self on July 8, is now in my collection. This set I found accidentally while walk- ing through a blueberry patch a few rods from a swampy stream. The bird left the nest when I was but three feet distant and flew about thirty feet /to a small tree, where she perched for | some time watching me examine the nest. Finally she flew away to some thick (growth and disappeared. | The nest was built in a small depression in the leaves, and composed of leaves, | grass, and weed stalks with a strip of thin bark about the outer edge. It was lined with pine needles and horse-hair. The nest measures in depth outside 2.5 inches. | Inside 1.25 inches; the width outside is 4:5 inches; inside 2.5 inches. The nest contained three bluish green /eggs, the average size of which is 67% .94 |inches. Arthur M. Farmer. | Amoskeag, N.H. 0.& O Vol.17, Oct.1802 p.155-56 THE AUK: A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. JANUARY, 1897. ppl-# NOTES ON A CAPTIVE HERMIT THRUSH. BY DANIEL E. OWEN. JuNE 26, 1896, while exploring a small patch of mixed growth in search of birds, I fell in with a young Hermit Thrush, accom- panied by its parents. The young bird was just from the nest and had such ill control of its faculties and muscles that, ulti- mately, after a laborious flight of seven or eight yards, it alighted at my very feet. I captured the youngster, by dropping my hat over it, and having tied the bird, loosely, in my handker- chief, carried it home in my collecting basket. For the next five weeks, the Thrush was my constant study companion, and during this period discovered so many attractive traits that when I came to restore my captive to its native wood, the parting was, to one of us, the occasion of real regret. I domiciled my little orphan in a large, old-fashioned canary cage which was allowed to stand, most of the time, on the sill of an open window. At first the Thrush objected to this durance vile, expressing its distaste by ejaculatory ‘peeps’ which, June 28, attracted to the roof, near the window, a sympathetic Chipping Sparrow, and caused a Robin in a neighboring tree to sound a loquacious and protracted alarm. But the imprisoned bird weuUUs vie vee BUG WY ak @ VeLLITUTL WIUT, DTLULE inserting the pieces of meat between the young bird’s gaping mandibles, I dipped them in water by way of lubrication, in order that they, readily, might slip down the bird’s throat. This was the more necessary because the bird, often, would refuse to swal- low unless the food had been placed far back inthe mouth, at the very entrance to the gullet. Moreover, it seemed well to supply Skipping the western types, our eastern Zurdus ‘‘pallase” comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: ermzt or Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine); Litile Swamp Robin and Rufous- tailed Thrush. Bull, N,O.0, 3,Apil. 1883, p. 73- g Owen, A Captive Hermit Thrush. rae seemed soon to realize that remonstrance was of no avail, and by June 29 its impatience had given way toa philosophic serenity and composure that rarely were disturbed during the remainder of our acquaintance. It was astonishing to see how quickly and well the Thrush adjusted itself to novel conditions. By the twenty-ninth of June, that is, after three days of confinement, the bird was not only on the best of terms with me, but we had learned to communicate. I found that a very gentle kissing sound, made with the lips, at once attracted its attention, causing it to ruffle its feathers, as young birds do on the approach of the old ones, and giving rise to an expectant attitude generally. Having secured its attention, I had then only. to open the cage door, when the bird would come out, hop into my lap, and open wide its mouth. In a few days more, the Thrush had learned my step and my whistle. Its recog- nition of these sounds was voiced in a succession of chirps, which, usually, had an imperative tone, or a coaxing one, and indicated an empty stomach. If my absence had been rather long and the bird’s meal unduly delayed, its piping voice took on a mandatory key which bordered on imprecation. When well fed and com- fortably at rest on its perch, the little fellow had a habit of trilling softly, as if talking to itself. ‘This trill had a remarkable property of ventriloquism that led me, at first, to ascribe the notes to a bird out of doors; but I soon learned their author and came to take pleasure in their assurance of genuine contentment. When captured, my Thrush was unable to feed itself, so I had to make my bungling fingers do the work of a mother-bird’s dexterous bill. Knowing that it would be a good deal of a task to furnish, altogether, food of the same nature as that provided by the parent birds, I made the experiment of substituting, to some extent, for grubs, earthworms, and insects, raw beef cut into bits about one centimeter long by half a centimeter wide. Before inserting the pieces of meat between the young bird’s gaping mandibles, I dipped them ‘in water by way of lubrication, in order that they, readily, might slip down the bird’s throat. This was the more necessary because the bird, often, would refuse to swal- low unless the food had been placed far back inthe mouth, at the very entrance to the gullet. Moreover, it seemed well to supply | Skipping the western types, our eastern Turdus **pallast” comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: Flermtit or Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine); Litile Swamp Lobin and Rzzfous- tatled Thrush. Bull. N.O.0, 8,Apil. 1888, p. Td by ie Owen, A Captive Hermit Thrush. 3 water, in some way, to the digestive tract of the Thrush, which for many days refused to drink. Although the bird bathed almost daily, and once, at least, bathed twice in one day, up to July 31, when observation was discontinued, it drank in my presence but three times. These exceptions to its rule of abstinence occurred during some hot weather toward the end of its confinement. The young Thrush took kindly to its diet of meat. June 28, between 8 a. Mm. and 7 P.M., it was fed eight times and swallowed 27 bits of meat. June 29, between 8 a.m. and 8 P.M., it was fed ten times and ate 25 pieces of meat. In order to get a more definite idea of the appetite that demanded this amount of solid - nourishment, I began, July 4, to weigh the bird’s food, as well as the bird itself. As this. little investigation proceeded, it became apparent that the bird’s weight fluctuated greatly within a space of twenty-four hours. Thus July 4, at night, the Thrush weighed 30 grammes, while in the morning of July 5 it weighed but 25.5 grammes, a loss during the night of 4.5 grammes. To appre- ciate the significance of this variation, let it be noted that the loss in a single night was 15 per cent of the total weight, so that if a rso pound man were to suffer the same diminution in avoirdupois, between going to bed and rising, he would lose no less than 22.5 pounds. In order to get comparable figures, I made it a practice, there- fore, after July 5, to weigh the bird in the morning. For the five days, July 4 to July 8, inclusive, the bird’s average weight was 27.7 grammes, and the average weight of meat eaten daily, 13.56 grammes. These figures do not convey a strictly accurate idea of the bird’s appetite, because I was absent from my study several hours daily, and the Thrush, undoubtedly, would have eaten more if assiduously tended. For example, July 7, between the hours of 11.30 A.M. and 8.45 p.m., being constantly looked after, the bird ate 12 grammes of meat, nearly as much as its average for a whole day ; and although my record indicates that it ate about 50 per cent of its weight in meat, yet I feel certain that under the most favorable conditions it would have made way with at least its own weight of raw beef, daily. 4 While meat formed the staple diet of my Thrush, during the first weeks of its confinement, and was used, more or less, throughout, Skipping the western types, our eastern Turdus ‘*pallast” comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: ermz¢ or Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine); Litile Swamp -Robin and Rufous- tailed Thrush. Ball, N.O.O, 8,Apil. 1883, p. 73- 4 Owen, A Captive Hermit Thrush. re I began, early, to experiment with such food as I thought likely would have fallen to the lot of the Thrush had it been left to the care of its parents. Thus, July 1, I fed to the bird a number of earthworms. For convenience’ sake, I cut a few of the biggest worms into two or three pieces, each of which was as large as an ordinary worm. Counting these pieces as whole worms, and this is legitimate, considering their size, the Thrush ate 19 worms between the hours of 8.30 a.m. and 1 p.M., four hours and a half. This is at the rate of 4 worms per hour, or one worm every fifteen minutes. These figures, again, do not represent the capacity of the bird truthfully because I had not become expert in feeding, and after I had made several unsuccessful efforts to thrust the wriggling object in my fingers down the bird’s throat, it often would shut its mouth in disgust and refuse the worm. July 3 came the discovery that the Hermit Thrush is fastidious in its diet. Atr.45 on that day, the bird weighed 25.2 grammes. At the same hour, I weighed out 7.5 grammes of worms taken from a manure heap. In 30 minutes, the bird had eaten four grammes of the worms. If it had continued at the same rate, it would have eaten its own weight in worms in 3.15 hours; but it soon appeared that the bird did not relish the flavor of these dunghill delicacies. It made a great splutter in eating the worms and frequently rejected them with every symptom of nausea and abhorrence, wiping its bill on the nearest object, which was, generally, my hand. So I threw away the remainder of this lot of worms and renewed the experiment with five grammes of worms taken from cool, black, garden mould. These the bird dispatched, with evident relish, in just 30 minutes more. At this rate, it would have eaten itsown weight of acceptable worms in about two hours and a half! My record of later experiments, however, indicates that the Thrush would not prove quite so voracious a songster. Just how long it would take the young bird to eat its own weight in worms, I never accurately ascertained. To know this would, indeed, be interesting, but it would be of small scien- tific value since the conditions of captivity differ widely from those surrounding a bird in the wild state. The results of the raw meat and the worm experiments caused me to infer a rapid digestion on the part of the young Thrush. It [3 ; ‘ (ae Ns Caen Anmrcacw Burcls.. Ingersoll. Skipping the western types, our eastern Turdus Spal” comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth of secluded’ and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: Flermit or Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine); Little Swamp ‘Robin and L2zfous- tailed Thrush. Bull. N.O.0. 8,Apil. 1883, p. 73- Vol. XIV aioe Owen, A Captive Hermit Thrush. 5 was not long before I had an opportunity of verifying this pre- sumption. July 11, I was shown, inablueberry patch, a nest which I took to be that of a Hermit Thrush. Judging that the location of this nest might imply a fondness for blueberries on the part of the Thrush, I introduced a few berries, July 13, into my bird’s cage. The avidity with which they were seized and swallowed showed that my conjecture had been well founded. The coloring matter of the berries dyed the bird’s excretions, and it occurred to me that this fact furnished a ready method of finding the length of time required by the Thrush to digest blueberries. The test was made July 25. At 12.56 p.m. of that day, the bird voided white excrement and was fed, at once, with blueberries. At 2.28 P.M., one hour and thirty-two minutes later, it dropped blue excrement mingled with berry seeds. If this experiment is trustworthy, and I see no reason to doubt the accuracy of its method, the time required for a blueberry to traverse the digestive tract was, practi- cally, one hour and a half. I have said that, at first, my little captive was unable to feed itself. Generally speaking, this is true ; but the bird soon acquired a habit of picking up occasional morsels and at the time of its release, July 31, it could get along very well without assistance, although, even then, it preferred to be fed. The bird began to peck at imaginary objects, in a desultory way, June 29. In the morning of July 1, while the Thrush was ona window sill, a favorite perch when liberty had been granted it, I put beside it a piece of earth-worm. It eyed the worm for a moment and then attacked it in dead earnest. In its enthusiasm, the bird lost its balance and fell off the sill; but later, when it had regained its equilibrium, mental and physical, it managed to get away with several worms unassisted. July 3, the Thrush spent some time on the floor of my study, running about, sometimes making short flights, and displaying, withal, a great deal of curiosity. My shoes, particularly the lace fastenings, the carpet tacks, and a pair of ring staples on a box, were all critically examined and pecked at; but the favorite subject of investigation was a small piece of waste paper that lay on the floor. The paper was red on one side and white on the other and was picked up and _ tossed about very frequently. July 8, the bird discovered a fondness for | i) ee Marne g Arras Birds... Ingersoll . Skipping the western types, our eastern Zurdus “‘pallase” comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: Mermd¢ or Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine); Little Swamp -Robin and Rufous- tailed Thrush. Bull, N.O.0, 3,Apil. 1883, p. 73. Jan. 6 Owen, A Captive Hermit Thrush. au house flies, to which, when placed in its cage, dead or disabled, it helped itself. Later it developed considerable skill as a flycatcher and no insect was safe within the wires of its cage. The bird’s predilection for pulling over paper grew on it. It was very amus- ing to see it alight on my study table and essay, forthwith, to look beneath each separate sheet of paper lying thereon. This habit I took to be a display of instinct, which, exercised in the woods, would lead the bird to overhaul leaves and other similar rubbish in search of food. The behavior of the Thrush at various times gave me several hints as tothe habits of its species in the wild state. For example, it ate most greedily in the morning and at night, thus corroborat- ing the general testimony of observers that birds take a rest in the middle of the day. Again, as dusk came on, the bird became restless and fluttered about its cage so recklessly that, at times, I was obliged to cover the cage with a cloth and set it in a dark corner. After some study of the bird’s movements, I was led to attribute its unrest at evening to a desire for a high perch. To test my inference, I one evening liberated the bird. It flew about the study, close to the ceiling, and, finally, went to roost on a high picture. This proved that I had, in fact, in these nightly flutterings, an evidence of the instinct that leads birds to seek high perching places, at night, as a safeguard against many dangers. It struck me as especially interesting in the case of the Hermit Thrush which builds its nest on the ground. My captive Thrush slept with its head under its wing, in the orthodox fashion, and took occasional naps during the day. It proved a meditative bird and would sit for half an hour at a time with an air of deep abstraction. As it dozed on my study table, June 30, I counted its respirations and found them to be from 80 to 8s per minute. When it is reflected that the rate of human respiration ranges from about 44 at birth to 15 at maturity, the fact that the bird is a high pressure organism may be appreciated. My Hermit Thrush belied its name by being very fond of society. Occasionally, I allowed the bird the freedom of my study. At such times it preferred to keep near my chair, often alighting on my head, or on the table upon which I was writing. It would allow itself to be held in the hand, but was rather ill at | Skipping the western types, our eastern Turdus ‘‘pallase” comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: Mermzt or Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine); Little Swamp Robin and Rufous- failed Thrush. Bull, N,O.O, 8,Apil. 1883, p, 73- pie came Owen, A Captive Hermit Thrush. 7 ease, and pruned itself carefully on being released. It bathed regularly, and though it kept its cage in a litter, was scrupulous about its plumage. When taken, its tail feathers had just started. They grew rapidly, and by July 31 had attained their full length. As soon as the appendage had gained sufficient length to be used in gesticulation, the bird accompanied its ‘peeping’ cry with flicks of the tail, after the manner of a Robin. Some of its atti- tudes, as it stood with uplifted tail, were very like those of the Catbird. In concluding this record it remains to speak of the bird’s method of eating earthworms, for it was method, indeed. The bird began by worrying the worm, much as a cat does a mouse, nipping, pecking, and slatting its victim violently. The attack seemed to be directed, mainly, at the extremities of the worm. Thus, in one case, the head of the worm was pecked ten times, the tail seventeen times, and the middle twice. The worm, of course, squirmed and wriggled vigorously, at first; but, after a time, lost, in a measure, the power of motion. Now and then, the bird’s beak would miss the worm, or would slip off. At such times the mandibles came together with an audible snap, conveying a suggestion of the torturing pinches to which the unfortunate worm was being subjected. The pummeling and nipping having gone on for from one and a half to three and a half minutes, the Thrush would next essay to swallow the worm, beginning, almost invariably, at the tail. This mode of attack may have been prompted by a chivalrous desire to give the poor worm as much of a chance as possible. If so, its object was, in a measure, gained, for, in the case of a big worm, the process of swallowing was distressingly prolonged by the efforts of the worm to escape, in which it often succeeded so far as to crawl out of the bird’s mouth almost as fast as it was drawn in. The outcome of the struggle was always in the bird’s favor, although in one instance, that I timed, the head of the worm visibly protruded from the bird’s throat for seven minutes and a half after swallowing began. The fact that the Thrush swallowed its worms tail first gains something in interest when the structure of the earthworm is taken into account. As is well-known, the earthworm’s body consists of from 100 to 200 rings, or segments. Every segment, except the Skipping the western types, our eastern Zurdus “‘pallast” comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: Mermzt¢ or Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine); Litile Swamp Robin and LRezfous- tailed Thrush. Bull, N.O.0. 8,Apil. 1883, p. 73- 8 Brat, Food of European Birds. a anterior two or three and the last. affords insertion to four groups of short bristles, to which muscles are attached, and by means of which the worm progresses. The bristles may be made to point in either direction, according as the worm wishes to advance or retreat. When pointed toward the tail, they hold the worm as it crawls ahead; when directed ahead, they give foothold for retrograde movement. Now a person would suppose that the presence of several hundred little bristles, all pointing the ‘ wrong way,’ would inter- fere with easy and pleasurable deglutition; and inasmuch as a worm, normally, crawls ahead, and not back, I expected to see my Thrush swallow worms head first, when, it is to be presumed, the bristles in question would not retard the process. As a matter of fact the contrary method, as noted above, was followed. Once in a while, a small worm was seized by the middle and doubled, or taken by the head ; but careful observation, extending over several days, brought out so few instances of this kind that I am con- vinced it was a rule with the bird to swallow earthworms tail first. The fact that the worm often made some progress in its attempt to escape from the bird’s mouth would indicate that the bristles were in working order, despite rough treatment, and that they were pointed back, toward the tail of the worm. From this we must infer, either that the bird was indifferent to the rasping of the bristles on the walls of its throat, or that the sharp resistance they exhibited added spice and flavor to the writhing morsel. But, for all that, any explanation is merely conjecture, and why the Hermit Thrush should choose to begin its meal with the tail of its victim remains a curious, though not a profound, subject for speculation. Skipping the western types, our eastern Zurdus ‘‘pallase” comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: Afermzt or Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground Swamp Robin (Maine); Litile Swamp Robin and LRezfous- tatled Thrush. Bull, N.O.0. 8,Apil. 1888, p. Pon 14 i | European Thrush and Lawrence’s Warbler. I have the honor to report the capture of the European Thrush (Turdus pilaris), which ‘was shot near this place in March, 1888. I be- lieve it is the first bird of this species recorded. O.&O, XIV haz./839 p. yy. oonn. Yun. HM. feryk