DISTRIBUTION OF THE HERMIT THRUSH 31 



bled hiiu to perceive at ouce, tbougb, somewbat inconsistently, 

 be goes on to quote Dr. Cooper's account in connection witb 

 tbe Dwarf Tbrusb. We may "witbout besitatiou reject tbe 

 wbole record as far as it bears upon au alleged breeding of tbe 

 Dwarf Tbrusb so far south, since tbere is no doubt tbat Dr. 

 Cooper's nests were really tbose of tbe Olive-backed Tbrusb, or 

 its variety ustulatus. Observations are wanting to determine 

 tbe case precisely, yet, remembering bow strongly elevation of 

 surface affects tbe breeding-range of species, and tbat tbe 

 Dwarf Tbrusb is found in wooded mountainous tracts, we may 

 grant tbat it will probably be found to nestle mucb farther 

 soutb than its Eastern relative is known to do. I should not 

 be surprised if its dispersion during tbe breeding-season were 

 found very closely correspondent with tbat of tbe Varied 

 Tbrusb. 



Turning now to tbe better-known Hermit Tbrusb of tbe East, 

 tbat sby recluse whose lowly home bas been often entered by 

 the curious naturalist, eager to learn its secrets, tbe first thing 

 that strikes us as bearing upon its furtive movements is the 

 lack of any trace of its presence in tbose subtropical regions to 

 wbicb tbe Wood Tbrusb and tbe Olive-backed and others re- 

 sort in winter. We are not even sure tbat it takes the short 

 tligbt from Florida, a favorite borne, to any of the West India 

 Islands. Though Dr. Gundlach, tbe veteran ornitbologist of 

 Cuba, whose labors for many years bave done so mucb to eluci- 

 date tbe bird-life of tbat island, once recorded its presence 

 tbere, it seems that be bad really anotber species in view. 

 Like tbe Catbird and tbe Thrasher, tbe Hermit Tbrusb finds 

 in tbe groves and swamps of tbe Soutbern States a winter 

 borne so congenial that it need seek no further. Audubon in- 

 formed us many years ago of its abundance in Mississippi and 

 Louisiana ; and later records, multiplying rapidly with the 

 growing number of those who are interested in tbe delightful 

 study of birds, not only confirm tbe statement, but extend its 

 applicability to most of the Southern States. I well remember 

 the admiration which this brave and hardy little bird used to 

 excite in me, when I was first trying my own wings in short 

 flights in ornithology, mostly confined to the vicinity of my 

 home at Washington, by its appearance, notbiug daunted, dur- 

 ing the inclemency of October and March, when its more delicate 

 relatives were far away. Its very slender, pale-colored legs, 

 like tbose of many otber insect-eating birds wbicb spend mucb 



