194 BULLETIN 196, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



drove him away, he kept returning. Later, after we had walked 

 through the cemetery and returned, the bird was again on top. A 

 most peculiar action was the position of the bird ; wings were extended 

 from the body with primaries turned down and apparently touching 

 the fence — in short a three-point landing. The bird did not appear 

 to be wet or show any difficulty in flying." 



Dr. Dayton Stoner (1932) "watched one of these birds for some 

 time as it took its morning bath in one of the pools of shallow water 

 in a bog. The ablutions were continued for several minutes and were 

 accompanied by a great deal of fluttering and splashing of water. 

 Then followed a most careful and meticulous preening and oiling 

 of the contour feathers; particular attention being given the tail and 

 large wing feathers, the vanes of which were run carefully through 

 the mandibles so that the disengaged hooklets — if any — would be 

 re-engaged. The entire procedure lasted between ten and fifteen 

 minutes. " 



A rather peculiar action was noted by Cyril G. Harrold on Nunivak 

 Island, Alaska, mentioned by H. S. Swarth (1934): "These birds 

 have a habit of making for the boulder-strewn shore when alarmed 

 and hiding under the large rocks, where it is very difficult to locate 

 them." 



Mr. Turner (MS.) writes: "I have observed this species on both 

 the Pacific and the Atlantic Arctic regions, and cannot consider it as 

 a shy bird, that is, difficult to approach. It is of a retiring nature, 

 and in certain positions very apt to be overlooked, being oftener 

 seen as it flits from one thicket to another than otherwise." 



Voice. — The song of the gray-cheeked thrush is evidently inferior 

 to those of the hermit and wood thrushes, and some think that the 

 veery and even the oliveback are superior vocalists. This is largely 

 due to the fact that the graycheek does not sing its best song while 

 on migration, though it is often heard. Few of us have been priv- 

 ileged to hear it on its northern breeding grounds, where it is heard 

 at its best and where the full, rich, sweet song is doubly appreciated 

 in the barren surroundings of its summer home. Here it mounts 

 some low tree or bush and pours out a most delightful melody. It 

 ceases to sing, however, when the care of young nestlings absorbs 

 its attention. Eugene P. Bicknell (1884) writes: 



As a result of my experience with these birds, I have little hesitation in char- 

 acterizing the song of the Gray-cheeked Thrush as weaker than that of the Olive- 

 backed, entirely dissimilar in tone, and with a somewhat different disposition 

 of the notes. Instead of musically outbursting, it is singularly subdued, and 

 has a far-away and rather ventriloquial sound. It seems more the expression 

 of some distant emotion revived in memory than of a suddenly felt present 

 emotion which the song of the Olive-backed Thrush suggests. * * * The 



