JAN*.. 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN* CDXY. 705 



In southern Wisconsin, Messrs. Kumlien and Hollister consider it 

 a fairly common summer resident. They say: "It arrives early in 

 the spring, in small flocks of half a dozen or more, sometimes by the 

 last week of April. Dr. Ogden has found it breeding in Milwaukee 

 County, and at both Delavan and Milton it nests in reasonable 

 numbers every year. Nest building usually begins by May 20 and 

 by June i incubation has commenced. The young are still in the 

 nest up to June 15 or 20, and the families remain together the entire 

 summer. Mr. Clark has never taken this species in Dunn County 

 during a great many years of active collecting and observation. It 

 is doubtful if it is common north of the southern tier of counties, 

 except along Lake Michigan, where it is found in fair numbers as far 

 north as Two Rivers." (Birds of Wisconsin, 1903, p. 125.) 



The nest is on a branch of a tree, usually 25 feet or more from the 

 ground and is composed of grass, plant fiber, lichens, etc. The eggs 

 are 4 or 5, bluish white, thickly spotted and speckled with shades of 

 brown, and measure about .55 x .45 inches. 



Family TURDID^. Thrushes, Bluebirds, 

 Solitaires, etc. 



The family Turdidae contains about 150 species, a dozen of which 

 (including races) occur in eastern North America. They are migra- 

 tory and at times gather in flocks, especially in the south and during 

 migrations. Their food consists of insects, berries, and fruit. The 

 location and style of nest varies with different species. They are 

 all good songsters, especially the Wood Thrush, whose notes are 

 particularly sweet and melodious. 



Subfamily MYADESTIN^. Solitaires. 

 Genus MYADESTES Swainson. 



358. Myadestes townsendii (Auo.). 

 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. 



Distr.: Western United States, from the Great Plains to the Pacific 

 coast and from British Columbia to Lower California; breeds from 

 the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico northward; accidental 

 in Illinois. 



