TURDin.K — TIIK THRUSHES. 21 



without any mud, and were lined with decayed leaves. Their heiglit and ex- 

 ternal diameter measured 4 inches. Tlie diameter of the cavity was 2^ inches 

 and the depth 2\. The eggs measured .90 by .70 of an inch. They are of a 

 pale bluish-green, speckled witli cinnamon-brown, chiefly at the larger end. 



The nest, supposed lo be (if tliis species, supi^lied by Dr. Cooper, is large 

 for the bird ; constructed of a base loosely made up of mosses, lichens, and 

 coarse fibres of plants. It is a strong and comjjaet structure of matted 

 leaves, put together when in a moist and decaying condition ; witli these 

 tliere are interwoven roots, twigs, and strong fibres, surrounding the nest 

 with a stout band and strengtliening tiie rim. In fact, it corresponds so well 

 — as do the eggs also — with those of T. ustulatas, that it is e.xtremely proba- 

 Ijle that they really belong to that species. The only oliservable difference 

 is the absence of the Hjjpnum mosses characteristic of northern udulatus. 



DaU and Bannister mention in their list of Alaska birds that the species 

 is not comuron there. It was also taken at Sitka and Kodiak by Bischoff. 



The fact that this thrush builds its nest above the ground, and lays 

 spotted eggs, if verified, would at once warrant our giving it independent 

 rank as a species, instead of considering it as a local race oi pallasi. 



Turdus pallasi, vai. auduboni, B.vird. 



ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEKMIT THRUSH. 



Turdns nudubon!, B.\ied, Eev. Am. Birds, 1864, 16. — Ridgw.vy, P. A. N. S. 1869, 129.— 

 Elliot, Illust. (fig.). Merula silens, Swain.son, Pliilos. Mag. I, 1827, 369 (not Turdus 

 sitens of ViElLLUT, Encycl. Metli. II, 1823, 647, based on T. mustdiinis, WiLS. = T. 

 fusccscnis). — ls. Fauna Bor.-Amer. II, 1831, 186. — Baiud, Birds N. Amt^r. 1858, 

 213, and 922. — Scl.\ter, P. Z. S. 1858, 325 (La Parada), and 1859, 325 (Oaxaca). — 

 Ib. C'atal. Am. Birds, 1861, 2, no. !». 



Sp. Ch.\r. Colors much as in Turdus ndnn.i, but tlic upper tail-coverts scarcely diflereut 

 from the back. Tail yellowish-rufous. Length of wing, 4.18; tail, 3.G0; bill from nostril, 

 .45 ; tarsus, l.'2G. 



Hab. Rocky Mountains, from Fort Bridger south into Mexico. Orizaba (Alpine region.s), 



SUMICURAST. 



This is a very distinct race of tln'ushes, although it may be questioned 

 whether it be truly a species. It is, however, sufticiently distinct from the 

 eastern and western Hermit Thrushes to warrant our giving it a place of 

 some kind in the systems. 



The young plutnage differs from that of j'cHnsi as do the adults of the 

 two, and in about the same way. The oli\-e is very much purer, with a 

 greenish instead of a brownish cast, and the tail is very much lighter, 

 inclining to dull ochraceous instead of rufous ; this yellowish instead of 

 rufous cast is apparent on the wings also. The yellowish " drops " on head, 

 back, etc., are very much narrower tlian in pallad, while the greater co\'erts, 

 instead of being distinctly tipped witli yellowisli, merely just perceptibly 

 fade in color at tips. 



