LAND BIRDS. 711 



mistaken. Major Boies states that on Neebish Island, St. Mary's River, 

 it is occasionally seen during the summer and probably breeds. Kneeland 

 includes it in his list of the birds of Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior 

 (1856-57), and Miss Flora L. Mowbray of Marquette states that it is quite 

 common there and nests; she also states that Dr. Elliott R. Downing of 

 the State Normal School has found the bird in that vicinity. Mr. Thomas 

 B. Wyman of Negaunee, also states that it is a common summer resident 

 in hardwood lands in that vicinity. On the other hand, Mr. 0. B. Warren 

 of Palmer, Marquette county, who formerly recorded the species from 

 that region, states that it should not be included in his list. The writer 

 has spent considerable time on two different trips to various parts of the 

 Upper Peninsula east of Marquette, and in spite of most careful search 

 has failed to find this species. The Olive-back and Hermit Thrush were 

 heard and seen repeatedly, but the Wood Thrush never. 



The bird usually reaches the southern border of Michigan during the 

 last week of April, Mr. Trombley's dates at Petersburg ranging from April 

 25, 1886 and April 22, 1891 to May 2, 1893 and May 5, 1897. At Ann 

 Arbor Norman A. W^ood gives the average for twenty-five years as the first 

 week in May, the earliest date being March 21, 1889, wdiich must be con- 

 sidered an exceptional date, if not actually a mistaken identification. 

 Farther north the W^ood Thrush appears during the first two weeks in 

 May, according to latitude, and probably by the 15th of May has reached 

 all parts of the state where it commonly nests. It does not always begin 

 to sing immediately upon arrival, but much depends upon the weather. 



The song once heard is not likely to be mistaken for that of any other 

 bird except the Hermit Thrush, but according to the writer's experience 

 it is usuall}^ confounded with the song of that bird. Descriptions of the 

 song vary widely and are far from satisfactory. Most writers consider 

 it inferior to that of the Hermit Thrush, but there is room for a difference 

 of opinion on this point. Chapman says " W' hen excited his usual call- 

 note, pit-pit, is regularly repeated until it resembles the sound produced 

 by striking large pebbles together, quite unlike the whistled wheeu of the 

 V'eeiy. * * * -phe songs of the Wood and Hermit Thrushes are of 

 the same character, but while the Hermit is the more gifted performer 

 the Wood Thrush does not suffer by the comparison. His calm, restful 

 song rings through the woods like a hymn of praise, rising pure and clear 

 from a thankful heart." Nehrling says: "It loves the deep half-darkness 

 of the forest solitude with its peace and quietness. Here we can hear the 

 wonderful, harmonious, flute-like song from early dawn till evening twilight. 

 Were it not for hearing repeatedly the far-sounding, delightful colie hallalee 

 one would hardly know that this famous vocalist had returned home again. 

 Besides this common song-like call it utters a low tuck or tack and a quickly 

 reiterated tuck-tuck-tuck-tuck." According to Bicknell it has no second 

 song period, but sings well until near the end of July, then less often and 

 witli less vigor until August 6 to 15th, when the song ceases abruptly " 

 (Auk, I, 128). 



The Wood Thrush moves southward during September, and although 

 a few may be found in October, the majority have left the state consider- 

 ably before the middle of that month. 



Professor Forljes, summing up the results of his examination of the 

 stomachs of this bird in Illinois, says: "Eating nearly as many ants as 

 the Catbird, as many cateipillars as the Robin and Hermit Thrush, it 

 falls Ix'low all the other species in the I'atio of predaceous beetles, iiins 



