TURDIM3 THE THEUSHES. 65 



Merula migratoria (Linn.) 



AMERICAN ROBIN. 



Popular synonyms Robin; Robin Red-breast; Migratory Thrush; Robin Thrush; 

 Red-breasted Thrush; American or Carolina Fieldfare. 



Turdus migratorius LINN. S. N. i, 1766, 292. WILSON, Am. Orn. i, 1808, 35, pi. 2. fig. 2. 



NUTT. Man. i. 1832, 338. AUD. Orn. Biog. ii, 1834, 190, v, 1839, 442, pJ. 131; Synop. 



1839, 89; B. Am. iii, 1841, 14, pi. 142. BAIRD, B. N. Am. 1858, 218; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859. 



No. 155; Review, 1864, 28. COUES, Key, 18:2, 71; Check List, 1873. No. 1; 2d ed. 



1882, No. 1; B. N. W. 1874, i, 228; B. Col. Val. 1878, 8.-B. B. R. Hist. N. Am. B. i, 



1874, 25, pi. 2, fig. 3. 

 Merula migratoria Sw. &RICH. P. B. A. il, 1831, 176. RIDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, 



No. 7. 



HAB. Breeding throughout northern and eastern North America, but more sparingly 

 in the Southern States. Replaced in the western United States and high table-lands of 

 Mexico by the allied race M. miyratorta propii/qua. 



SP. CH. Adult $ in summer: Head deep black, with the lower eyelid, part of the 

 upper eyelid, and a supra-loral streak, pure white; chin pure white, the throat streaked 

 with the same, Upper parts grayish slate-color, the scapulars and interscapulars show- 

 ing darker centers, these usually most conspicuous anteriorly; wiug-coverts also darker 

 centrally but this mostly concealed; primaries, primary-coverts, and alu 35, black, 

 narrowly but distinctly edged with ash-gray. Tail uniform slate-black, the two outer 

 feathers with inner webs distinctly tipped with white, Juguluin, breast, entire sides, 

 upper part of abdomen, axillars, and lining of the wing, uniform deep rufous or reddish 

 ochraceous (varying much in shade in different individuals); posterior part of abdomen 

 and femoral region pure white; anal region and crissura white, mixed with plumbeous, 

 this mostly beneath the surface. Bill, bright yellow, tipped with dusky; iris brown; tarsi 

 and toes brownish black or dark horn-color sometimes deep black. Total length lo.-ll; 

 extent 15.50-17.; wing. 8.10-5,40; tail, 4.10-4.50; culmen, 8S-.92; tarsus, 1.30-1.40; middle toe, 

 .82-.9S* 



Adult 9 in summer: Usually a little paler and duller in color than the male, but not 

 always distinguishable. Bill less purely yellow; dimensions about the same. 



Adult in winter: Upper parts decidedly tinged with olive; rufous feathers of the 

 lower parts distinctly bordered with white, producing a scaly appearance. Bill mostly 

 blackish, the yellow confined chiefly to the lower mandible. 



Young in first winter: Differing from the autumnal or winter adult in much paler 

 colors; head grayish, the pileum scarcely or not at all darker than the back, the upper 

 parts being uniform dull gray; breast, etc., reddish ochraceous, much mixed with white 

 posteriorly, the jugulum tinged with ashy. A more or less distinct supra-auricular streak 

 of white. 



Young in first plumage: Pileum and side of head dull blackish, with an indistinct dull 

 whitish superciliary streak between; the lower eyelid also whitish. Upper parts dull 

 brownish gray, the scapulars and interscapulars variegated with blackish terminal bars 

 and whitish shaft-streaks; lesser and middle wing-coverts also marked with pale shaft- 

 streaks. A whitish malar-stripe, bordered below by a blackish stripe along each side of 

 throat; chin and throat white, immaculate, or with only very faint scattered specks, 

 lireast, sides and abdomen, pale rufous or ochraceous, thickly spotted with black; lining 

 of wings uniform ocliracoous or pale rufous; posterior lower parts chiefly whitish. 



*Extreme measurement of 9 adult males. 

 5 



