Hastern Massachusetts,
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1659
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(ay 19 i ihicen t Bbc Mie eri BER lk MT a YT nore eaes
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/«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
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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
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|
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
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| -
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
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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 ;
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8. 1885. r 4M,
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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.
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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
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ee
°
wn
a)
o
ny
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Ge
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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,
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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
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prcese LIN. a hope Qanieh bn Prrwsth arch /* ai Morn Bab rp Lr
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wihichy oasis ina A. Op proruk Be LE. AEA so Palen Bias
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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
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later ata 9 /- Teas panLag Care ae
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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.
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* Ridgway, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. IV, 1882, pp. 377-379.
+ Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VIII, Jan. 1883, pp. 12-17. *
Long Island Bird Netes. Wm, Dutcher
2
4 number of birds which were sent to me, that had been killed by
striking the Great West . Bay Light (Shinnecock Bay), Long
Island, on the night of October 1, 1881, were four T hrushes, which
I labelled adicie. Quite recently I submitted them to Mr. Bick-.
nell, who.pronounced two of them to be undoubted examples of
the new variety béckvell/.,.. I have. therefore the pleasure of ad-
ding another bird to the known avi-fauna of, Long Island,
23. Turdus alicie bicknelli. BrcKNELL’s Turusu.—With
It is a male in nuptial plumage and was collected by the writer
on the divide north of Jamaica May 22, 1900.— Gro. K. Currrin, Brooklyn,
Ni
over the series of Gray-cheeked Thrushes in the Brooklyn Institute Mu-
seum a few days ago I noticed one specimen that seemed very small.
careful examination showed it to be a typical example of Bicknell’s
Thrush.
Auk, 3, Oct., 1886, p, W¥3- Y.
Foneral Notes
Nr AS octrittence ZG Cpete ee tas Be
76. D6 01’ (Lerch
Turdus aliciz bicknelli.—I shot two Bicknell’s ket
Vhrushes on Oct. 5,
1892, at Rockaway Beach. They were not together, but at widely sepa-
rated parts of the Beach. I found them exceedingly shy, and it was only
after much watching and pursuing of all the Thrushes that were noticed
that Isecured them. Many Thrushes were observed, but no others of
any species were identified, for the cedars which grow on the Beach, and
the tangled thickets of briers, afford excellent concealment to ground-
loving birds, and in these spots they remained despite our most SSreRienE
efforts to dislodge them. Hence it seems probable that some of these
others also were 7. a. dbicknelld and that there was asm
all migration of
them at that time.
I have already noted’ the capture of this bird at Rockaway Beach on
Oct. 5, 1889, and may mention the following cases of its occurrence in
this region. Mr. Wm. Dutcher writes.—‘‘My Long Island records of
bicknell/ are as follows: Oct. 1, 1881, two, Shinnecock Light; Oct. 23,
1886, one, shot at Astoria; Sept. 23, 1887, one or more, Fire Island
Light; Sept. 18, 1889, one, Shinnecock Light. I believe them to be a
regular migrant but not nearly so abundant as alécte.” Mr. L. S. Foster
writes me that he has three skins of this bird taken at the Statue of
Liberty, New York Harbor, one Sept. 18-19, 1889, the others Oct. 11-12,
1891. I believe with Mr. Dutcher that this subspecies is a regular, though
uncommon migrant.—ArTHUR H. HoweELt, Brooklyn, N.Y.
aak &, Jan, 1803. D.91.
| hutadete, AY, -
| Hcdpis, Cohieatts
do Fay 60? Meckeeath Karr dot. hI, bef 41,15 75>
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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“SNGOSHOSNA VIHOIOOTAP
Niele OBERHOLSER, A New Wren from Alaska.
1900
COMPARATIVE MEASUREMENTS.
g | 2
| Bill. | | | Bill
Wing. | Tarsus. |———HH#
| ie |Culmen|Nostril.
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
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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.
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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
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|
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1395 “nam:
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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
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|
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
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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 <oe. Pare
SSA BGI
a ee A (pw '
half feat Tec Wey warner
ee On rare 6 AR PD /~
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acd At aa jn are Eke. «4 os (Pie tee t 1. in
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te furinpuip bag ad .
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ahr peta, p Cor tus. Ga he Hae 7
baad KX pict, up CO ff Luse~ PER bot fall.
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V8 7 eee hh Oe eee ou,
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| 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<cse— dear Lh Furst,
Uy, raf
Reach, N Bird
L t y Ree ie iene i
ee [Le YE FED pel, L7 uy © 9 Ne the
a : tee is
Ards A all ape. Jul, a je hug. > 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
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June 25-30, 1889. ™
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WEE fen weeds nk tfrnees ae Perse haa
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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
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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
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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