TIliUID.K — TllK THRUSHES. 19 



Thrusli, lias not lieen distin.miislied from the closely allied sjiecies ?'. tm-aiii- 

 soni, and all accomits of writers have blended both in siuLjular coid'usioii. 

 ]\Iy colleague, I'rotessor Baird, in the summer of 1844, was the tirst to sug- 

 gest the distinctness of the two species. By the common people of iVIaine 

 and the British Provinces this difference has long been generally recoguizi'd, 

 this species being known as tlie "(Irouud Swamp Bobin," and the other as 

 the " Swamp Eobin." 



The present species is found throughout Eastern Xorth America to the 

 Mississippi, and breeds from Massaciiusetts to higli arctic regions. It is 

 only occasionally found breeding so far south as Massachusetts ; through 

 which State it passes in its spring migrations, sometimes as early as the Idth 

 of April ; usually reaching Calais, Maine, by the 15th of the same montii. 



It is a very abundant bird throughout Maine, where it begins to breed 

 during the last week of ^lay, and where it also probably has two broods 

 in a season. 



The greater number appear to pass the winter in the Southern States ; it 

 being common in Florida, and even occasionally seen during tliat season as 

 far north as latitude 38° in Southern Illinois, according to ^Ir. Bidgway. 



It rarely, if ever, sings during its migrations ; appears in small straggling 

 companies, frequents lioth thickets and open fields, and is unsuspicious and 

 easily approached. 



The song of this species is very fine, having many of the characteristics 

 of that of the Wood Thrush {T. nmsteliiim). It is as sweet, has the same 

 tinkling sounds, as of a l)ell, but is neither so powerful nor so prolonged, 

 and rises more rapidly in its intonations. It begins with low, sweet notes, 

 and ends abruptly with its highest, sharp ringing notes. 



Taken from the nest they are easily tamed, and are quite lively and 

 plavful ; but their want of cleanliness renders tliem very undesirable pets. 

 Wiieu their nest is visited they make no complaints, but retire to a distance. 

 Not so, however, when their natural enemy, the hawk, appears ; the.'^e they 

 at once assail and seek to drive away, uttering loud and clear chirps, and 

 peculiar twittering sounds. 



The nest of this thrush is always built on the ground, most generally 

 either under low bushes or in the open ground, rarely, if ever, among 

 thick trees, and for the most ]iart in low swampy places. Both nest and 

 eggs closely resemble those of Wilson's Thrush {T. fusccscens). In I'ars- 

 boro, Nova Scotia, I found one of the nests built in the very midst of the 

 village, close to a dwelling, though on a spot so marshy as to be almost 

 unapproachable. The nests are o inches in height and 5 in diameter, with 

 a cavity 3| inches wide by If deep. They are composed of decayed decidu- 

 ous leaves, renmants of dried plants, sedges and grasses, intermingled witii 

 twigs, and lined with finer grasses, sedges, and strips of bark. 



The eggs are of a uniform bluish-green color, and range in length from .88 

 to .94, with an average of .03 of an inch. 



