TURDID.E THE THKUSHES. 55 



chusetts these birds are distinguished by the name of Nightingale, 

 a distinction due rather to the season than to the high quality of 

 their song." 



This estimate of the song of the Tawny Thrush is shared by Mr. 

 Chamberlain, who says (1. c.) that "the Veery displays the least 

 musical ability yet his simple strain is exceedingly pleasant to the 

 ear and his beautiful voice exhibits most strongly that pecnlier 

 resonant metallic tone which is characteristic of the genus." 



The nest is placed on or near the ground, resting on a thick mat 

 of dry leaves, and is without mud in its composition. The eggs 

 are four or five in number, of a bluish green color, usually immacu- 

 late, but in very rare cases finely speckled with brown. 



Mr. H. K. Coale's notes regarding this species as observed by him 

 in the vicinity of Chicago, are to the effect that it is a rather com- 

 mon migrant, but not often seen, on account of its shyness, and 

 that it is generally found in clearings, in company with Towhee 

 Buntings. 



Turdus fuscescens salicicolus (Ridgw.) 



WILLOW THRUSH. 



Popular synonym. Rocky Mountain Veery. 



Turdus fuscescens BAIKD, B. N. Am. 1858, 922, 927 (Ft. Bridger, Wyoming). ALLEN. 

 Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 155. 173 (Mts. of Colorado). BIDGW. Bull. Essex Inst. 1873, 

 172 (Salt Lake Valley. Utah); Bull. Esses Inst. 1873, 179 (Colorado); ib. 1875, 35(Provo 

 K..Utah); Orn. 40th Paral. 1874.398 (valleys of Bear. Provo, and Weber E's. Utah; 

 breeding). HENSHAW, Ann. Lye. N. Y. xi, 1874 (Utah); JRep. Wheeler's Exp. 1874, 

 39, 56, 71 (do.); Zool. Wheeler's Exp. 1875, 148 (Denver & Ft. Garland. Colorado; 

 breeding). COUES. B. N. W. 1874, 5 (part). 



Turdus (Hylocichla) fuscescens COUES. B. Col. Val. 1878, 39 (part). 



Hylociclila fuscescens salicicola RIDGW. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vol. 4, Apr. 10,1882,374. 



Turdus fuscescens salicicolus COUES, 2d Key, 1884, 246. 



HAB. Rocky Mountain region, west to the Salt Lake Valley; wintering in eastern 

 Mexico (and southward?). Accidental fall straggler to Illinois (Chicago, Sept. 16, 1877, H. 

 K. Coale. 



CH. Similar to T. fuscescens, but averaging decidedly larger, the upper parts much 

 less tawny, and the jugulum less distinctly buff. Wing 3.80-4.25 (4.02); tail 2.95-3.40 (3.20); 

 culmen .55-. 60 (.57); tarsus 1.15-1.28 (1.17); middle toe .65-.7S (.69).* 



Adult in spring: Above uniform russet-olive (much as in T. ustulatus); jugulum and 

 lower part of throat pale buff, as in ustulatus, much lighter than in fuscescens, the mark- 

 ings, however, small and narrow as in the latter. Sides of head dull grayish, without 

 trace of lighter orbital ring; sides of breast, sides, and flanks ash-gray (rather deeper 

 than in fuscescens), the breast very faintly or not at all spotted with darker. 



* Extreme and average measurements of 11 adults. 



