THRUSHES, SOLITAIRES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 471 



758c. H. u. almse Oberh. Alma Thrush. 



Similar to sicainsoni, but grayer, especially on rump and upper tail cov- 

 erts ; the upper parts hair brown, only lightly tinged with green instead 

 of being- clear olive, and the tail partly clear brown and partly uniform 

 with back. 



Distribution. — Yukon Basin south to the Rocky Mountain region of the 

 United iStates, west to Utah and eastern Nevada ; in winter south to Mex- 

 ico. 



759. Hylocichla guttata (Pallas). Alaska Hermit Thkush.i 



Upi)er parts dark grai/ish hroivn, more olive in winter, tail deep rufous ; 

 chest thickly marked witli broad, wedge-shaped spots. Length : 0-7, wing 

 ;i2.5-8.8U, tail 2.C>0-;5.00, bill .45-..52. 



Remarks. — The Alaska hermit thrush can be distinguished from the 

 Audubon liermit by its smaller .size and darker coloration. 



Distribution. — Northwest coast region from Alaska to southern British 

 Columbia, and southward in winter. 



Nest. — On ground in damp or swampy woods, composed largely of dead 

 leaves and dried grasses, i'^gys : 4 or 5, plain greenish blue, paler than 

 in the wood and willow thrushes. 



Food. — Flies, weevils, ants, caterpillars, moths, pepper berries, and 

 small fruits. 



The hermit thrushes have a marked habit of raising and lowering 

 their reddish tails, and their call-note is a single chuck. As a group 

 their songs rank as the best of the rare thrush songs. 



769a. H. g. auduboni (Baird). Audubon Hermit Thrush. 



Similar to guttata, but larger, and upper parts lighter, grayer, with rufous 

 of tail much lighter (fulvous). Length: 7.oU-8.25, wing 3.6")-4.;j5, tail 

 2.95-:^. 4.5, bill .5;)-.60. 



Distribution. — Rocky Mountain region, from near the northern border 

 of the United States south to Guatemala ; east to Texas and west to the 

 mountains of Arizona and southern Sierra Nevada in California. 



Nest. — In bushes or low trees, 3 to 10 feet from the ground ; partly 

 made Avith moss. 



Food. — Flies, ants, weevils, and other insects and berries. 



As you travel through the spire-pointed fir forests of the western 

 mountains, you know the thrush as a voice, a bell-like sublimated 

 voice, which, like the tolling of the Angeliis, arrests toil and earthly 

 thought. Its phrases can be expressed in the words Mr. Burroughs 

 has given to tlic eastern hermit, ' O/i, upheml, spheral! oh, holy, 

 holy !' and the first strain arouses emotions which the regularly fall 

 ing cadences carry to a perfect clo.se. The fine spirituality of the 

 song, its serene uplifting (piality, make it fittingly associated with 

 nature's most exalted moods, and it is generally heard in the solenui 

 stillness of sunrise, when the dark fir forest is tipped witli gold, or 



1 ITylorichln frritlata .tlevhii Grinnell. Montbrky Hermit Thrush. 



A pale rtHliy form ; \i|)i>er parts liiiir brown ; upper tail coverts nml tail iaaliella color ; 

 HpotH oil bieaHt few and Btimll. 



Dislrihutiou. — Breeds in humid coast belt of California from eoutheni Monterey 

 County to Souoma County. {,The Auk, xviii. 259.) 



