38 HABITS OF THE OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH 



streams ; they were generally situated about five or six feet 

 from the ground, in the willows or other shrubs, near the 

 water." 



This paragraph leads me to speak at once of another pecu- 

 liarity of the Olive-backed Thrush in comparison with all its 

 congeners, excepting, of course, its two varieties alickc and 

 ustulatus. I refer to its laying speckled eggs in a nest several 

 feet from the ground. The Wood Thrush, indeed, builds in 

 bushes and low trees ; but then its eggs are whole-colored, like 

 those of the Veery and Hermit, both of which nestle on or very 

 near the ground. In high Arctic regions, whither many of Swain- 

 son's Thrushes resort for the summer, the nest has been fre- 

 quently observed on the stunted vegetation not a yard from 

 the ground ; but, in more favored places, the altitude is usually 

 about a man's height. The nest is more compact and more 

 elaborately finished than those of the ground-builders, the 

 Yeery and Hermit, the outer portions of which are coarser and 

 less consistent. The material is very miscellaneous, and varies, 

 moreover, with the locality; but mosses, lichens, leaves, bark- 

 strips, and fibrous weedy substances are usually found, while in 

 some the Hypnum mosses are said to be most conspicuous, and 

 to give a distinctive character. In size, the nests are only 

 about four inches in diameter by half as much in depth; the 

 walls being about half an inch thick. The eggs, numbering 

 four or five, measure about seven-eighths of an inch in length 

 by five-eighths in breadth ; but much variation, both in size 

 and shape, has been observed. They are light greenish-blue in 

 color, fully speckled with reddish-brown and other shades. 

 Any Thrush's eggs like this found in a nest above the ground, 

 described by early authors, were almost certainly those of the 

 Olive-backed Thrush, to whatever species they may have been 

 accredited. 



As to the general habits of this bird in comparison with 

 those of its congeners, there is little to be said, since they are 

 scarcely distinctive. It is perhaps less decidedly terrestrial 

 and less solicitous of concealment than the Hermit, being often 

 observed in open woodland, and gleaning much of its food 

 among the branches of trees. 1 do not think that I have ever 

 recognized its voice, excepting the short single note which is 

 much the same as that of its allies. Dr. Brewer describes it as 

 having a certain resemblance to that of the Hermit, yet quite 

 distinct; " it is more prolonged ; the notes are more equal and 



