THE RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH. 231 



nests of certain oilier tln-ushes. is conspicuously lacking in this one. The 

 brooding hollow is only three inches from brim to brim, b\' one and three- 

 quarters in depth. The eggs are in every way miniature Robins', being without 

 spots, and representing only three-fifths or two-thirds the bulk of those of 

 tlie larger bird. 



No. 93. 



RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH. 



A. O. U. No. 758. Hylocichia ustulata (Nutt.). 



Synonym. — "Wood Thrush" (name properly restricted to H. mustclina of 

 the East). 



Description. — Adults: Above olive-brown, substantial!}- uniform; a conspicu- 

 ous orbital ring of pale buff ; sides of head buft'y mingled or streaked with olive- 

 brown ; chin, throat and chest buff (or lightening to buffy white toward chin) ; 

 sides of throat and entire chest with triangular marks of deep olive-brown, 

 smaller and narrower on throat, larger and broader (sector-shaped) posteriorly; 

 breast, especially on sides, transversely spotted with light brown ; sides and flanks 

 heavily marked with brownish ; remaining underparts white. Bill blackish, paling 

 basally on mandible; feet and legs brown; iris brown. Winter specimens are 

 brighter, more deeply tinged with buff' before and with under tail-coverts buffy. 

 Young birds are more or less marked and streaked with buft'y and tawny above 

 and the markings of underparts are mostly transverse. Length 6.50-7.50 (165.1- 

 190.5) ; wing 3.83 (97) ; tail 2.87 (73) ; bill ,54 ( 13.7) ; tarsus i.io (28). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size: unifurm olive-brown above; heavy 

 spotting and buft'y wash on chest; sides of head and eye-ring Inift'y ; brown above 

 as compared with H. u. szi.'iiinsoiiii. 



Nesting. — Nest: of bark-strips, moss and grasses, with a heavv inner mat or 

 mould of dead leaves, lined with rootlets and fine grasses; placed usually at 

 moderate heights in bushes or saplings of thickets, sometimes 30-60 feet high in 

 trees. Eggs: 3-5, usually 4, greenish blue or dull grayish blue dotted and spotted, 

 rather sparingly, with various shades of brown. .A, v. size, .93 x .67 (23.6x17). 

 Season: June. July ; one or two broods. 



General Range. — Pacific coast district from southern California to Alaska 

 (Juneau), breeding thruout its range; south in winter thru Mexico to Central and 

 northern South America. 



Range in Washington. — Common summer resident and migrant west of 

 the Cascade Afountains; probably overflows thru mountain passes to at least the 

 eastern slopes of the Cascades. 



Authorities. — Turdus ustulatus Nuttall, Alan. Orn. U. S. and Canada, Land 

 Birds, ed. 2. 1840. pp. VL 830 (Columbia River). C&S. L'. Rh. D'. Kb. Ra. 

 D^ Ss^ Kk. B. E. 



Specimens.— U. of W. ?■( ?). Prov. B. BN. E. 



